Even more than Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia was the biggest offseason acquisition for the New York Yankees last year. The Bronx Bombers have always had good hitting, but what they really lacked since last reaching the World Series in 2003, was a true ace to lead the staff through the postseason.
Take a look at the Yanks' ERA in the playoffs from 2004 to '07: 4.64, 4.40, 5.56, and 5.89.
Enter Sabathia.
The big lefty went 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA in five quality starts this postseason, leading the staff to a 3.26 ...
Joe Mauer is an unbelievable athlete. A man who could have had a career in football turned down a scholarship to play for Florida State and instead entered the MLB Draft, which has turned out to be a good choice.
When you think of a catcher, you don't usually think of eye popping offensive numbers, but that is what Mauer gives you, as well as a great defender of the plate. The three time AL batting champ, two time gold glove winner, and now AL MVP has a bright future ahead ...
Pete Rose has more hits than any other man who ever played professional baseball.
He finished his long career with 4,256 hits, surpassing the immortal Ty Cobb.
Derek Jeter has now played fourteen seasons with the New York Yankees and is generally recognized as one of the best players and best hitters of his era.
I have long been intrigued thinking of the comparisons of these two men on the field. (Off the field there is no comparison.)
One of the thoughts that is frequently on my mind is whether Jeter could possibly surpass ...
Three weeks ago, a great deal of the discussion surrounding the Yankees 27th World Championship was about "The Core Four."
Much was made about how Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, and Jorge Posada had remained together since the minor leagues and that they had been instrumental in five world championships in the Bronx.
Forget about Pettitte leaving for three years to go to Houston. Andy has to be considered a key to the Yankees winning these five titles. He was a big-game pitcher in 1996 and contributed to the titles won ...
A catcher has won the 2009 American League Most Valuable Player Award. It was not Yankees catcher, Jorge Posada, but Minnesota's Joe Mauer. Jorge Posada possibly was not even in consideration for the award. But the Yankees veteran has just won his fifth World Series title. Does Jorge Posada have the numbers to be enshrined in Baseball's Hall of Fame.
Jorge Posada could go down as a Yankees legend...or at least a great fan favorite. But in the last few months, the phrase "Future Hall of Famer" has started to attach ...
My preseason AL MVP pick: Grady Sizemore
AL MVP winner: Joe Mauer
Two nights before the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, I had the opportunity to hang out with Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Joe Nathan at an pre-All-Star Game party at a bar in New York City.
It was by far and away one of the coolest nights of life. How often does someone have drinks with an MVP? Little did I know I was hanging out with two MVP’s that night.
Today, Mauer followed in Morneau’s footsteps by winning the ...
Year Age Tm Lev ERA G GS IP H R ER HR BB SO HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2005
21
3 Teams
A-Rook-AA
4.15
14
13
73.2
77
40
34
8
27
36
1.0
3.3
4.4
1.33
2006
22
3 Teams
A-AA-A_adv
5.86
37
3
58.1
66
42
38
5
30
39
0.8
4.6
6.0
1.30
2007
23
Altoona
AA
2.81
40
0
57.2
43
24
18
8
17
52
1.2
2.7
8.1
3.06
2008
24
The 1952 World Series is usually remembered for Billy Martin's great catch of a Jackie Robinson pop fly with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning of the seventh game.
The catch saved the Series for the Yankees, but the 1952 World Series was memorable in many other ways.
Joe Black Started and Finished Game 1 Rookie right hander Joe Black started Game1 at Ebbets Field against Yankees' ace Allie Reynolds.
Brooklyn beat Reynolds 4-2 on home runs by PeeWee Reese, Jackie Robinson, and Duke Snider. ...
How many times have you heard that the Yankees buy their players? How many times have you heard how the Yankees buy their championships?
You have probably heard a combination of both questions over the past decade. How valid are these questions? In fact, it is possible to buy players. Players have been bought since baseball first began. In the late 1910s, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee was trying to sell Babe Ruth to finance a Broadway play. Frazee had strong offers from both the White Sox and the Yankees. ...
Yesterday the Yankees added seven players to their 40-man roster, protecting them from the Rule 5 draft. They also removed Shelley Duncan from the roster and out righted him to Triple-A. I predicted that the Yankees would only add four or five players, so I am definitely a bit surprised they chose to add the following seven players:
Austin Jackson, OF
Jackson is one of the top prospects in the organization and was a surefire bet to be protected. His stock fell a bit this year even though he hit .300 in ...