Author Archive
Why Andy Pettitte Is the Key to the Yankees’ »
Andy Pettitte will turn 40 on June 15. He spent 2011 in retirement, watching games on TV.Pettitte had an extended spring training and then found his groove making several starts for the Yankees Triple-A team in Scranton-Wilkes Barre.Now, after only four starts since returning to the Bronx, it has become clear that Pettitte might well hold the key [...]
New York Yankees: Maybe It Is Time for the »
Yankee fans probably know by now that the son of George shot down reports in the New York Daily News earlier this week that the Yankees were for sale.Managing partner Hal Steinbrenner, who now runs the most famous franchise in American sports with brother Hank, called the report "complete fiction."He said he expected his family to own the [...]
Is Kevin Long on a Short Leash as Yankees Hitting »
Kevin Long is in his sixth season as the New York Yankees hitting coach, but you can't blame him if he is wondering about job security. The Los Angeles Angels recently fired hitting coach Mickey Hatcher, who was made a scapegoat because the mega-million dollar man known as Albert Pujols is off to the worst start of his career. (The Angels front [...]
Is Mark Teixeira Having a Slow Start or Is His Career »
I have seen Mark Teixeira play since his rookie season with the Texas Rangers in 2003.I lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area back then and Tex, as he was nicknamed, had a promising first season, batting .259 with 26 home runs and 84 RBI.He started slowly, batting just .237 with five homers and 25 RBI through May. That's when he got the reputation [...]
Why Rafael Soriano Is Ready, Able to Replace David »
The New York Yankees may have left spring training with questions about their starting rotation, but the bullpen was considered a strength.How many teams could afford to have Rafael Soriano, who saved 45 games for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010, as their seventh-inning go-to guy?With David Robertson in the setup role and Mariano Rivera closing, all [...]
How Important Is Brett Gardner’s Return to the »
Brett Gardner hit 15 home runs since joining the New York Yankees in 2008.Compare that to Josh Hamilton, who had 18 homers entering Sunday night's game against the Los Angeles Angels.Curtis Granderson hit 11 for the Yankees who have a lineup filled with power hitters such as Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Raul Ibanez, Robinson Cano and Nick [...]
Will Mariano Rivera Become the Yankees’ Version »
While both are exceptional athletes, there would appear to be little that Mariano Rivera and Peyton Manning have in common.If you take a second look, however, there is an analogy to be drawn between how the Indianapolis Colts dealt with Peyton Manning and his multiple neck surgeries and the decision the Yankees might face with Rivera in 2013.First [...]
Would Joba Chamberlain Have Replaced Mo Rivera as »
Yankee fans may be happy to hear that Mariano Rivera plans to return from his torn ACL even though he is 42 years old and already the best reliever of all time.David Robertson and Rafael Soriano are expected to handle the closer's role, but it is interesting to speculate whether Joba Chamberlain would have have been the closer-of-choice during the [...]
Time for the New York Yankees to Go on a Jason Bay »
The loss of Mariano Rivera for the season with a torn ACL might have Yankee fans in mourning, but there are other issues management has to deal with that might be more pressing than filling the role of closer.The Yankees, as I have tried to point out during the first month of the season, are built around the home run. Derek Jeter appears to be the [...]
The Future Is Now: Yankees Face Life After Mariano »
No one could have predicted that Mariano's Rivera's career might end this way, laying on the warning track in the Kansas City outfield, holding his right knee in pain.The Yankees have had their share of injuries this season and they run the gamut from bad luck to bad judgment.Joba Chamberlain jumping on a trampoline at a kid's playground, Michael [...]