Yankees News

Jorge Posada out of New York Yankees lineup again
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July 3
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"With the swelling still persistent on Jorge Posada's injured thumb, the Yankees catcher will sit for the second straight game on Friday as the Blue Jays visit Yankee Stadium to start a four-game series. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he felt like Posada needed another day for the left thumb to heal. His biggest worry was the thumb being struck again and causing even further pain. Girardi said there is still some swelling in the joint. He doesn't believe the injury will keep Posada out much longer. The plan is to see how he feels on Saturday and if the swelling has decreased, he could be back behind the plate. * * * Alex Rodriguez will likely get one day off in the four-game set against ..."
Posada's thumb is feelin' foul
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July 3
New York Post
 
"Manager Joe Girardi held Jorge Posada out of the starting lineup last night because of a sore left thumb after the catcher took a foul tip Wednesday night. And the manager didn't know late last night if Posada would be able to catch today. "He bruised the inside of his thumb a little bit," Girardi said. "I was planning on giving him one of the next two days off." Girardi said Posada was able to hit and catch, but "he is sore." Sore enough that Girardi didn't use Posada to hit for Francisco Cervelli in the seventh with the Yankees down two runs, Hideki Matsui on second and one out. "Jorge was concerned about catching," said Girardi, who hit Posada for Cervelli in the ninth inning of the 8-4 ..."
CC, Bombers earn an 'F' versus M's
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July 3
New York Post
 columnist Jay Greenberg
"APPARENTLY deciding that no game should be played without a rain delay, the Yankees staged one last night without the presence of a single drop of precipitation. At 7:05, some bad weather was expected -- certainly it turned out not to be CC Sabathia's usual cutter on the hands of Franklin Gutierrez, who burned him for a home run -- so it was decided to delay the start time 36 minutes for showers that never materialized. It was drier than a Pirates' postseason drought and the Yankees still wouldn't start the contest. Perhaps they knew something about the inevitability of their first loss in eight games, 8-4 to the Mariners at the Stadium, because the Yankees proceeded to play a terrible ..."
Wow! Tex makes an error
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July 3
New York Post
 
"It must be all the rain: Mark Teixeira's gold glove and right arm seemed a tad waterlogged last night. Teixeira's 106-game errorless streak ended with a throwing miscue in the ninth inning of the Yankees' 8-4 loss to Seattle at the Stadium, but two other plays he failed to convert didn't make things any easier for his team. Ichiro Suzuki hit a smash leading off the game that Teixeira couldn't snare -- the ball hit his webbing and trickled into right field for a double -- and Ryan Langerhans led off the sixth with a hard grounder which the first baseman swiped at and missed, giving Seattle a leadoff double. In the ninth, after Teixeira threw wide to Alfredo Aceves covering first, allowing ..."
Yankees streak stops at 7 as ace goes bust
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July 3
New York Post
 
"Like everything else about CC Sabathia, his shoulders are large enough to absorb big doses of blame. So when Sabathia saw his teammates score four runs against the Mariners last night, he believed he had enough support for a victory. Nevertheless, because of an inability to get his pitches down in the strike zone, Sabathia couldn't make those runs stand up. "We scored four runs, it should have been enough to win the game," Sabathia said. "I let us down tonight." His fastball, which pushed the speed gun into the mid-90s, wouldn't get below the belt and his changeups at the letters were punished. "When that happens you get hit around a bit," said Sabathia, who was saddled with an 8-4 loss ..."
Cardinals, Yankees sign hyped Dominican prospects
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July 3
SI.com
 
"The St. Louis Cardinals gave a $3.1 million signing bonus to 16-year-old outfielder Wagner Mateo, considered to be among the top amateur free agents from Latin America. The New York Yankees on Thursday also gave a $3 million bonus to a 16-year-old Dominican prospect, catcher Gary Sanchez. Cardinals vice president Jeff Luhnow announced details of their signing at a news conference in Santo Domingo. "We have a tradition of competing and winning and Dominicans have been a big part of that success. We hope that one day soon, Wagner joins Albert Pujols and helps us win," Luhnow said. Mateo, who is from Santo Domingo, is 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. He throws and bats left-handed. He represented the ..."
Leyritz arrested for domestic battery
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July 2
MLB.com
 
"Two months before Jim Leyritz faces a trial on a DUI manslaughter charge, the former Major Leaguer was arrested and accused of domestic battery against his ex-wife in South Florida, according to The Associated Press. Citing a police report, the AP said Leyritz was being held in Broward County Jail on Thursday after he was arrested in his home in Davie, Fla., a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. His ex-wife, Karrie, first told police they were arguing over child support when he struck her twice in the face and pushed her to the ground for writing a check without permission. She later said Leyritz dragged her out of bed and pushed her against the wall, according to The AP. Leyritz told police she ..."
Yanks confirm Nady will have surgery
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July 2
MLB.com
 
"Unable to avoid the inevitability any longer, the Yankees announced on Wednesday that outfielder Xavier Nady has abandoned his attempts to rehab his right elbow and will undergo Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery next Wednesday, effectively ending his season."I'm extremely disappointed for him because we thought we were going to get him back this week," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "You feel bad for a guy that really tried, and tried to be a team guy."Originally injuring the elbow in a game on April 14, Nady attempted to rehab his arm for more than two months in an effort to return this season. But two separate setbacks forced Nady to visit specialist Lewis Yocum in California on ..."
Joe Girardi insists reliever Brian Bruney is New York Yankees' 'eighth inning guy'
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July 2
Trenton Times
 
"Second-guessing comes with the territory, of course, so Joe Girardi realizes that not everyone will agree with his stance that Brian Bruney is unquestionably and unequivocally the Yankees set-up man. For now. With newly converted reliever Phil Hughes mowing down batters with scary regularity these days -- the right-hander has a 1.38 ERA since transitioning from starter to reliever -- the obvious question beckons: Why not make Hughes the eighth-inning guy? Bruney, sidelined twice due to a nagging elbow injury, hasn't exactly been lights-out recently. He blew his first save of the season in the series opener against the Mariners on Tuesday. (Girardi actually used Aflredo Aceves and Phil ..."
A-Rod's nephew Joe Dunand Jr. creating his own baseball legacy
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July 2
New York Daily News
 
"Joe Dunand Jr.'s nickname is Lil' Joe, but you might as well call him Lil' A-Rod. Dunand Jr., a 13-year-old slugger, is A-Rod's nephew. He's also a 5-9, 140-pound spitting image of the Bombers' third baseman. His father, Joe Dunand Sr., is Rodriguez's half-brother. "He looks more like his son than mine," Dunand Sr. said half-jokingly earlier this week as his son took batting practice at Jose Martinez's Baseball Made Simple Academy in the Bronx. A-Rod's nephew has a smooth, powerful swing for a 13-year-old, finishing with the same high follow-through as his uncle. "He's got great aptitude and he's got nice pop in his bat," said Martinez, who tutors some of the area's top young players ..."
With victory at Yankee Stadium, Andy Pettitte now feels at home
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July 2
New York Daily News
 
"Andy Pettitte insists he has made no mechanical adjustments, but the new Yankee Stadium wasn't nearly the house of horrors Wednesday night that it had been at the start of the season for the veteran lefty. Pettitte, whose ERA was nearly three runs higher at home this season (5.77) than it had been on the road (2.79), took a step toward evening those numbers with seven solid innings in the Yanks' 4-2 win over the Mariners. "It was definitely nice to get," Pettitte said after improving to a team-best 8-3 on the season. "I know I haven't been pitching well here and I want to pitch well here. I want to make the team happy and the fans happy and myself happy." Despite a 3-2 mark at the new ..."
A-Rod's homer lifts Andy Pettitte, Yankees over Seattle, 4-2
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July 2
New York Daily News
 
"Whatever plan the Yankees are following for Alex Rodriguez, it's working. More than a week after his much-publicized break in Miami, A-Rod continues to swing the hottest bat in the Yankees lineup. His go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth gave the Bombers a 4-2 decision over the Mariners, extending their winning streak to seven games. "Alex is one of those players that can do a lot of damage in a short period of time," Joe Girardi said. "There aren't a ton of those guys in baseball." A-Rod's homer marked the second straight night he gave the Yankees a late-inning lead with a two-run homer, although unlike Tuesday night when Brian Bruney let it get away in the eighth, the bullpen made this ..."
New Yankee Eric Hinske finds direction with return to AL East
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July 2
New York Daily News
 
"Eric Hinske has never played for New York before, yet his trade from the Pirates to the Yankees felt like a homecoming of sorts. After playing seven years in the American League East, Hinske is back in the only division he ever knew before this season, and he couldn't be happier. "I've played for what seems like every other team in this division, so now I can add this one to my resume," said Hinske, who has played for the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Rays. "I'm just here to help however they use me. I understand how tight this division can be at times. I missed being in the East. It's awesome to be back." The Yankees acquired the versatile Hinske, who can play both corner infield spots and both ..."
As Phil Hughes dominates in relief, Joe Girardi should give him Yankees' set-up role
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July 2
New York Daily News
 columnist Bill Madden
"In the spirit of youth must be served, the Yankees Wednesday night sent rookie Ramiro Peña back to Scranton so he can start playing every day again. At the same time, there is a growing consensus around Yankeeland that Joe Girardi would do well to further serve youth by entrusting Phil Hughes with the more important eighth innings. For now, Girardi appears to be holding firm in his assertion that Brian Bruney is his eighth-inning man - although he could've fooled us last night when he decided to bring in Alfredo Aceves and, after one batter, Phil Coke, to pitch the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners. The idea, Girardi explained, was to have Aceves pitch only to the righty-hitting ..."
Ken Griffey Jr. still thorn vs. Yankees
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July 2
New York Daily News
 
"He still has one of the sweetest swings in baseball. With two outs in the sixth Wednesday night, Ken Griffey Jr. extended his arms and turned on Andy Pettitte's first pitch, a 90-mph fastball, and deposited the ball over the right field wall for his 10th home run of the season. Flashbulbs popped throughout the Stadium, and a mild applause ushered him around the bases, even though the solo shot had just erased the Yankees' lead. Instead of stinging the Bombers, who bounced back from the blast to beat the Mariners, 4-2, Griffey's longball was full of sentimental value. It was the 621st of his career, and it marked the 44th different stadium he had homered in - the most among active players ..."
Home runs help Yankees blow by Mariners, 4-2
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July 2
Seattle Times
 
"The final hope Jarrod Washburn and the Mariners had on Wednesday night was a fleet-footed center fielder with a knack for climbing walls. That's what it was going to take to keep the Mariners in what became a 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees at a new ballpark known for wind tunnels and long balls. And true to form, center fielder Franklin Gutierrez did indeed scale the fence and stretch his suction-like glove about as far as humanly possible. Problem is, the ball hit by Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez soared about 20 feet over his head. "He's done it before, but I can't ask him to work miracles," Washburn quipped after the two-run, tiebreaking blast by Rodriguez in the sixth inning proved ..."
Makeshift Mariners fall short Tuesday in new Yankee Stadium
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July 2
Seattle Times
 
"Some words of advice were given to relief pitcher Chris Jakubauskas as he took the mound with the bases loaded and two out in a tie game. They came courtesy of manager Don Wakamatsu and summed up perfectly the atmosphere felt throughout this eventual 8-5 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. With the hyped-up crowd in a brand-new Yankee Stadium roaring with intimidating presence and two contenders going toe-to-toe with every pitch, the Mariners hung in until the final at-bats taken by the home side. Later, in a clubhouse that seemed defeated but definitely not beaten, Jakubauskas let folks in on Wakamatsu's words of wisdom. "Wak told me on the mound, 'It doesn't get any better ..."
Ken Griffey Jr. still thorn vs. Yankees
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July 2
New York Daily News
 
"He still has one of the sweetest swings in baseball. With two outs in the sixth Wednesday night, Ken Griffey Jr. extended his arms and turned on Andy Pettitte's first pitch, a 90-mph fastball, and deposited the ball over the right field wall for his 10th home run of the season. Flashbulbs popped throughout the Stadium, and a mild applause ushered him around the bases, even though the solo shot had just erased the Yankees' lead. Instead of stinging the Bombers, who bounced back from the blast to beat the Mariners, 4-2, Griffey's longball was full of sentimental value. It was the 621st of his career, and it marked the 44th different stadium he had homered in - the most among active players ..."
Bruney Won't Cry If He Loses Eighth-Inning Role
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July 2
New York Post
 
"Brian Bruney isn't launching a campaign to keep his eighth-inning job. The inconsistent Yankee reliever yesterday stopped short of saying he'd welcome a new role, but also made it known he wouldn't lose sleep if manager Joe Girardi were to make Phil Hughes the team's primary eighth-inning option. "Hughes is throwing extremely well," Bruney told The Post before the Yankees defeated Seattle, 4-2, at the Stadium. "But the rest of our bullpen is [also] throwing extremely well. If they want to throw anybody in the eighth inning, it's fine. I don't care. I'm not here to be the eighth-inning guy and worry about that." Girardi last night used Alfredo Aceves and Phil Coke, who combined for a ..."
Slugger and Team Joined at the Hip
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July 2
New York Post
 columnist Jay Greenburg
"THE Yankees have three games next week on the Metrodome rockpile, already deemed one too many for Alex Rodriguez and his surgically repaired hip to responsibly endure. It's also one more game than the Yankees can afford. "It's not easy, but it is important," Joe Girardi said about this test of managerial self-control. "We have capable hitters to pick him up." Those capable hitters picked up the Yankees in A-Rod's absence and had dumped them off at 13-15 when he returned, then went 4-9 in June while he was doing a 4-for-42. Since Rodriguez took two days off in Florida 10 and 11 days ago and started a .435 tear, those same guys are now 7-0. As Rodriguez goes, the Yankees go. Any suggestion ..."
Pettitte Finds Comfort Zone as Yanks Roll
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July 2
New York Post
 
"It took almost three months, but Andy Pettitte figured out how to pitch effectively in Yankee Stadium. The difference in Pettitte's home and away splits were so vast it was easy to see the veteran lefty and the Homer Heaven weren't a good marriage. Until last night, that is. In his ninth home start, Pettitte allowed two runs in seven innings and pitched the Yankees to a 4-2 win over the Mariners in front of 45,285. The Yankees' seventh straight victory kept them 21⁄2 games behind the AL East-leading Red Sox. "You don't want to pitch bad here," said Pettitte, who gave up six hits and no walks. He is 8-3 and leads the team in wins. "You want to pitch well in your ballpark." Mariano ..."
Rodriguez Blast Secures Yanks' 7th Straight Win
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July 2
New York Times
 
"Alex Rodriguez always strives for more, a character trait that makes him a high achiever and feeds his demons. When he came back from hip surgery in less than two months this season, his doctor told him to reduce his work before games. Naturally, perhaps, Rodriguez ignored the advice and wore down in six weeks. He did too much, too soon, to nobody's surprise. "I've always taken a million swings," Rodriguez said. "Probably too many." Now he is swinging less, about 25 percent of what he normally would do, and the lighter pregame load has helped him do more when it counts. Rodriguez's latest blast made the difference in the Yankees' 4-2 victory against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night ..."
Hinske Happy to Return to an A.L. Division Race
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July 2
New York Times
 
"Eric Hinske did not want to say anything that might offend his last employer, the Pittsburgh Pirates. But for a player used to the rigors of the American League East, the basement of the National League Central was the wrong place to spend three months. "When you get a taste of winning, it's contagious," Hinske said. "You want to get it all the time." Hinske finally joined the Yankees on Wednesday after a frustrating day at the Pittsburgh airport, watching flights to New York get canceled because of bad weather. The Yankees acquired him Tuesday for two minor leaguers, strengthening their bench with a versatile veteran of the last two World Series. With Toronto in 2002, Hinske was the ..."
Yankees' Win Begins and Ends With Rivera
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July 2
New York Times
 
"Jorge Posada moved a few feet in front of the plate, as if the man delivering the ceremonial first pitch was a regional marketing director who had not thrown a baseball in decades. Actually, it was Mariano Rivera, fresh off his 500th save, who did the honors on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Posada was teasing him, and Rivera responded in kind, moving a few feet off the mound and lobbing a strike. His teammates had fun with the spectacle. "Well, in order for Mo to get ready, he's got to get a massage for a half an hour, a heat pack and all that other stuff," Derek Jeter said. More than three hours after his unofficial first pitch, Rivera threw the game's final pitch, a third strike to Franklin ..."
Two familiar faces could be missing
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July 1
MLB.com
 
"The sights and sounds of St. Louis will be familiar for fans in the great Midwestern baseball town when the 80th All-Star Game is played at Busch Stadium there July 14. But it's looking likely that two Midsummer mainstays won't be suiting up in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. With barely more than a day remaining before exclusive online balloting closes for the All-Star Game, and four days until the full rosters are revealed, there's a strong possibility that Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez won't make the National League team and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez won't be part of the American League team. In the latest voting update, Ramirez, currently serving out the final days of ..."
Hinske flight canceled
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July 1
Bergen Record
 
"Rain did more than just delay the start of the Yankees' series opener against Seattle on Tuesday night; it canceled the flight of the newly acquired Eric Hinske, whom the Yankees got in an afternoon trade with Pittsburgh. The delay also gave rookie SS Ramiro Pena another day in the big leagues, though he'll head back to the minors to make room for Hinske. Manager Joe Girardi likes the versatility of Hinske, the onetime rookie of the year who can play first, third, right or left field. "He can come off the bench and pinch hit, he's played numerous times in this division [with Boston, Toronto and Tampa Bay], he's been on World Series teams and playoff teams," Girardi said. With Alex ..."
A-Rod's two-run homer in 7th shows Yankees rest is working
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July 1
New York Daily News
 
"He may not be the Energizer Bunny, but following a two-day furlough to recharge his batteries, Alex Rodriguez keeps going and going. With one out in the seventh Tuesday night, the slugger hit a 2-2 fastball, up and in, and lifted the crowd to its feet with a home run to deep left that broke a tie and gave the Yankees a two-run lead at the Stadium. "I haven't turned on a mid-90s fastball, up and in, in a long time. I certainly didn't do it during the stretch where I struggled for a while," A-Rod said following the Bombers' 8-5 victory over the Mariners. "I feel fresher. I feel like my body is bouncing back daily much better. And I think the new routine has helped a little bit, just taking ..."
Joba Chamberlain's no-decision is one for the record books
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July 1
New York Daily News
 
"At this rate, Joba Chamberlain isn't likely to reach Cy Young's record of 827 career decisions. Chamberlain has the fewest number of decisions (nine) for a starting pitcher through 26 career starts in major-league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. And once again Tuesday night, Joe Girardi said "too many long counts" contributed to a pitch total of 96 by the time Joba was replaced by Phil Coke with one out in the sixth inning of the Yankees' 8-5 win over Seattle. "It's just learning how to pitch," Girardi said. "Joba is not what you would call an experienced big-league starter. There are some growing pains that you go through in learning how to pitch at this level." The good ..."
Brian Bruney blows lead, but Mariano Rivera leads Yankees over Mariners
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July 1
New York Daily News
 
"Mariano Rivera is used to throwing the last pitch in a Yankees win. Throwing the first pitch? That was a new experience. Rivera tossed out the ceremonial first pitch as he was honored for his 500th save, then closed out Tuesday night's 8-5 win over the Mariners for No. 501, locking down the Yankees' sixth consecutive victory. "That might be a first, huh?" Derek Jeter said. "I don't think I've seen that before." Rivera protected the lead just one inning after Brian Bruney failed to do so, as the setup man coughed up a two-run advantage that Alex Rodriguez had given the Yankees with a huge homer in the seventh. "I let the team down tonight and they picked me up," Bruney said. "Other ..."
With Brian Bruney struggling, time for Joe Girardi to let Phil Hughes pitch 8th inning
Comment
July 1
New York Daily News
 columnist Tim Smith
"Phil Hughes has been searching for an identity for most of this season with the Yankees. When Chien-Ming Wang went on the DL back in April, Hughes replaced him in the starting rotation and filled in admirably. When Wang came off the DL and returned to the starting rotation (rather shakily, mind you), Hughes accepted a role in the bullpen that was largely undefined. Joe Girardi said he could use Hughes in any variety of ways - long relief, short relief. Hughes said he didn't mind. Recently Hughes has shown a propensity for the short work, the dirty stuff that gets the Yankees out of a jam - a one- or two-inning bridge to Mariano Rivera. On Sunday he pitched 1-1/3 scoreless innings in a ..."
General manager Brian Cashman in no hurry to take Phil Hughes out of New York Yankees bullpen
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July 1
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Phil Hughes may have made a seamless transition from starter to reliever, but the Yankees brain trust hasn't lost sight of the big picture when it comes to the 23-year-old right-hander. "We do look at him as a starter," manager Joe Girardi said. "Right now, he's filling a void for us." Hughes certainly has been impressive in his new role, allowing just two runs in 13 innings of relief (1.38 ERA) with 16 strikeouts and just two walks. "He's a full-fledged reliever now," Girardi said with a laugh. "(We) won't hesitate to bring him in in any situation at this point." The truth, of course, is that Hughes' future lies as a starter. The club has balanced their long-term desire to get Hughes' ..."
Sean White can't hold the fort as Mariners lose 8-5
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July 1
Seattle Times
 
"The Mariners walked a tightrope all game long, yet kept on overcoming every obstacle put in their path. Unfortunately, when Sean White gives up four straight hits -- two of them doubles -- and three runs to open the bottom of the eighth, you know your goose is cooked. Especially with Mariano Rivera coming in to pitch the ninth. So, an 8-5 loss for a Mariners team that gave the Yankees all they could handle in this game. I'll tell you what, the M's went toe-to-toe with these guys before the middle relievers finally buckled. But this was a real heavyweight fight tonight in the Big Apple. The Mariners have nothing to be ashamed of. But what they can't do is let this snowball into something ..."
In Hinske, Yanks Add Versatility
Comment
July 1
New York Times
 columnist Tyler Kepner
"The Yankees would be thrilled if Eric Hinske became this decade's Don Baylor. For three seasons in a row in the 1980s, Baylor represented a different American League team in the World Series. Hinske has been a similar good-luck charm lately. He played in the 2007 World Series for the Boston Red Sox and the 2008 World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays. Now Hinske is a Yankee, acquired from Pittsburgh on Tuesday for two Class A players, outfielder Eric Fryer and pitcher Casey Erickson. "There's a lot of benefits to him," General Manager Brian Cashman said. "He knows his role. He can help us at third, first, left, right, D.H. He can pinch-hit, and that's a difficult thing, to be used to doing ..."
Yankees' Win Begins and Ends With Rivera
Comment
July 1
New York Times
 
"Jorge Posada moved a few feet in front of the plate, as if the man delivering the ceremonial first pitch was a regional marketing director who had not thrown a baseball in decades. Skip to next paragraph RelatedIn Hinske, Yanks Add Versatility (July 1, 2009) Keep up with the latest news on The Times's baseball blog. More on: Mets | YankeesGo to the Bats Blog » M.L.B.Scoreboard Schedules: A.L. | N.L. Standings: A.L. | N.L. Stats: A.L. | N.L. Team Reports Yankees2009 Schedule Individual Stats | Team History Times Topics: The Yankees Mets2009 Schedule Individual Stats | Team History Times Topics: The Mets Actually, it was Mariano Rivera, fresh off his 500th save, who did the honors on Tuesday ..."
Pirates trade Morgan to Nationals, Hinske to Yankees
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July 1
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Pirates have traded outfielder Nyjer Morgan and reliever Sean Burnett to the Washington Nationals in exchange for outfielder Lastings Milledge and reliever Joel Hanrahan. Separately, the Pirates late this morning traded outfielder Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees for catcher/outfielder Eric Fryer and pitcher Casey Erickson. Outfielder Garrett Jones will be recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis to take Hinske's spot on the roster. Check PBC Blog for details."
Pirates trade Morgan to Nationals, Hinske to Yankees
Comment
June 30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Pirates have traded outfielder Nyjer Morgan and reliever Sean Burnett to the Washington Nationals in exchange for outfielder Lastings Milledge and reliever Joel Hanrahan. Separately, the Pirates late this morning traded outfielder Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees for catcher/outfielder Eric Fryer and pitcher Casey Erickson"
Red Sox duo locked in close All-Star votes
Comment
June 30
MLB.com
 
"On his march to the Major Leagues, the little guy who plays second base for the Boston Red Sox has heard over and over again that he can't, but then he laces up his spikes, throws on his glove and proves everyone wrong. Now Dustin Pedroia is trying to do it again. Trailing Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers for weeks in American League All-Star voting, the reigning AL Most Valuable Player moved within a relative hair of the leader with a little more than two days remaining before voting closes for the 80th Midsummer Classic, which will be played July 14 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. It's been a steady climb toward the top for Pedroia, who trailed Kinsler by fewer than 59,000 votes in last ..."
Yankees get Eric Hinske for 2 minor leaguers
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June 30
Bergen Record
 
"Former AL Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske was acquired by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday for a pair of minor leaguers. Pittsburgh will receive right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer for the utilityman. In addition, the Pirates will give the Yankees cash. The 31-year-old Hinske hit .255 in 106 at-bats this season with nine doubles, one homer and 11 RBIs, playing right field, first base and third base. He was 8 for 24 as a pinch hitter and said to be unhappy with a lack of playing time. Through June 29 last year, he had 13 home runs en route to a 20-home run season with the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays. He won the rookie award with Toronto in 2002, ..."
Yankees add insurance policy, swing deal with Pirates for Eric Hinske
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June 30
New York Daily News
 
"The Yankees added an insurance policy to their roster Tuesday, acquiring Eric Hinske in a trade with the Pirates. Pittsburgh will receive minor league righthander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer. Hinske, who turns 32 in August, can play first base, third base and both corner outfield spots, giving them another versatile player to use in a variety of ways. For the Pirates, the deal represents a dump of Hinske's $1.5 million salary. For the Yankees, the deal adds a bat to their bench after Xavier Nady's expected return took a turn for the worse last week when he reinjured his elbow. Ironically, Nady was acquired by the Yankees last summer in a deal with the Pirates, so they're ..."
New York Yankees acquire Eric Hinske from Pittsburgh Pirates
Comment
July 1
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"According to multiple reports, the Yankees traded for Pirates utility man Eric Hinske on Tuesday. The Yankees sent to the Pirates two minor leaguers, outfielder Eric Fryer and right-handed pitcher Casey Erickson, in exchange for Hinske, the 2002 rookie of the year. The 31-year-old Hinske hit .255 in 54 games with the Pirates. He had one home run and had driven in 11 runs. According to mlb.com, the Yankees also received cash considerations along with Hinske."
Pirates get two Yankee minor leaguers for Eric Hinske
Comment
June 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"The Pirates today traded ultilityman Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees in exchange for two minor leaguers. Outfielder Garrett Jones was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace Hinske, and is expected to be in uniform for tonight's game against the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates acquired catcher/outfielder Eric Fryer and right-hander Casey Erickson. Fryer, 23, hit .250 with 11 doubles, two homers and 24 RBI in 59 games with Class A Tampa. He will be assigned to Class A Lynchburg"
Pirates trade outfielder Hinske to Yankees
Comment
June 30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Pirates late this morning traded outfielder Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees for catcher/outfielder Eric Freyer and pitcher Casey Erickson. Outfielder Garrett Jones will be recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis."
Since '96, Yankees' Rivera Has Made It Look as Easy as 1-2-3
Comment
June 30
New York Times
 
"Tim Salmon was the first player to get a hit off Mariano Rivera. It came in Rivera's first inning in the majors, as a starting pitcher against the California Angels at Anaheim Stadium on May 23, 1995. Salmon singled in the first, doubled in the third and walked in the fourth to chase Rivera in a 10-0 Yankees loss. "I really didn't think much of it; he was just another young pitcher," Salmon said Monday by telephone from his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. "Then the next time I saw him, he was coming out of the bullpen and he was ridiculous. He was filthy. Everyone was like, 'Remember him as a starter?' And I said, 'No, I don't.' He seemed like two different guys." The second time the Angels ..."
Speed on the bases keeping New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner in the game
Comment
June 30
Trenton Times
 
"When he's not in the starting lineup, Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner follows the game as if he's the manager, always on the lookout for spots where his blazing speed might come in handy. Which is why when the Yankees appear to be headed into one of those situations -- often times late in a close game -- Gardner is nowhere to be found in the dugout. Without having to be asked, he often slips out into a batting tunnel, a stadium corridor, or a training room treadmill -- anywhere that allows him to sprint -- so he can rouse his body from 2½ hours of inactivity, all so he can provide a 90-foot burst that could decide a ballgame. "When they put me out there to pinch run for somebody, they ..."
Mariners ready for first taste of new Yankee Stadium
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June 30
Seattle Times
 
"John Wetteland will, of course, never forget throwing the final pitch of the 1996 World Series at Yankee Stadium. He induced a foul pop-up from Atlanta's Mark Lemke that Yankees third baseman Charlie Hayes snared to give Joe Torre, Derek Jeter and company their first of four championships in five years. But Wetteland, now the Mariners' bullpen coach, also remembers just as vividly the first time he pulled on pinstripes and strode onto the hallowed grounds in the Bronx for a workout before opening day in 1995. "Walking down the hallway leading onto the field, it all runs through your mind," Wetteland said. "This is the same hallway everyone else walked down. "I remember I got to the steps, ..."
Goose Gossage closes debate, says Mariano Rivera's the all-time best
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June 30
New York Daily News
 
"Goose Gossage believes Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer in Yankees' history - and baseball history, for that matter - but that's not to say the Hall of Famer doesn't consider himself to be in the same class as the newest member of the 500 club. Gossage points out how different it is to be a closer today, saying pitchers such as Rivera and Trevor Hoffman have it easy compared to the load that he was asked to carry during the prime years of his career. "He might be the greatest closer of all-time, but we weren't closers," Gossage said Monday. "That word hadn't been coined yet. We were relief pitchers; we did a job it now takes three guys to do. I don't know who the greatest relief ..."
At start of Mariano Rivera's Yankee career, Gene Michael almost traded him
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June 30
New York Daily News
 columnist John Harper
"All these years later, Gene Michael still laughs when he thinks about how Mariano Rivera became the greatest one-pitch pitcher in baseball history. "He had a hell of a changeup when he was young, and he had a true slider to go with his fastball," Michael said Monday. "He could have been a starter - hell, he could have been an infielder, he's such a great athlete. But I think it worked out pretty well for him as a reliever." Along the way, Rivera developed his legendary cutter, the late-breaking pitch that he could throw, unlike other pitchers, at his fastball speed of 95 mph. The velocity isn't quite what it used to be but, at 39, Rivera still leaves hitters shaking their heads, as he ..."
Ageless Rivera is True Ace in Hole for Yankees
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June 30
New York Post
 
"Despite rumors of Mariano Rivera's athletic mortality, his milestone 500th save Sunday told a different tale. Many doubted Rivera's ability to regain his old form after offseason surgery, but no less than Yankees teammate Derek Jeter, Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman and relief legend Goose Gossage paid homage to the greatest closer in history. Hoffman, whose record of 572 saves Rivera is chasing, praised Rivera not only for his class, but also for his consistency, saying he was the security blanket that changed the way the Yankees played. Gossage guaranteed Rivera a spot in Monument Park and Jeter dubbed Rivera the best he'd ever played with. "Yes. No question," said Jeter, who has known ..."
Hughes Phil-ing the Bill as Big Bridge to Rivera
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June 30
New York Post
 
"THE concentration Sunday night was on whether Chien-Ming Wang would earn his first win of 2009 and Mariano Rivera would record his 500th career save, so you might not have paid much attention to what occurred in between: Phil Hughes delivered another eye-opening, offense- shutting performance. He threw an other 1 1/3 hitless innings against the Mets in a 4-2 Yankee triumph. Hughes has relieved seven times this season and has a 1.50 ERA and a .122 batting average against. In his last five outings, he is scoreless over seven innings with three hits, one walk and nine strikeouts. Maybe this is just a short run of success, though Alex Rodriguez said, "[Hughes] is throwing the ball as well as ..."
Since '96, Making It Look as Easy as 1-2-3
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June 30
New York Times
 
"Tim Salmon was the first player to get a hit off Mariano Rivera. It came in Rivera's first inning in the majors, as a starting pitcher against the California Angels at Anaheim Stadium on May 23, 1995. Salmon singled in the first, doubled in the third and walked in the fourth to chase Rivera in a 10-0 Yankees loss. "I really didn't think much of it; he was just another young pitcher," Salmon said Monday by telephone from his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. "Then the next time I saw him, he was coming out of the bullpen and he was ridiculous. He was filthy. Everyone was like, 'Remember him as a starter?' And I said, 'No, I don't.' He seemed like two different guys." The second time the Angels ..."