The LoHud Yankees Blog

Several readers in Taiwan e-mailed this morning with news about the clinic the Yankees held in Taoyuan, which is about 45 minute drive from Taipei. Despite cold a wet weather, a nice crowd showed up.

The clinics will run through Sunday. The Yankees sent five members of their player development staff from Tampa.

A special guest today was Taiwan’s national hero, Chien-Ming Wang.

Given Wang’s popularity in Taiwan, many people there have become ardent fans of the Yankees. It’s good that the team is doing its part for baseball. And maybe this will help them find another player.

Here are some more photos from the event. Thanks to Joseph and Grace for sending these along:

Sam Borden writes that Mark Teixeira is the polar opposite of Jason Giambi.

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I haven’t posted anything about Sergio Mitre being suspended for 50 games for PED use. There has been other stuff going on and Mitre is a rehab case signed to a minor-league deal.

But Jason from It Is About The Money Stupid broke the whole thing down in his blog and has quotes from the key players.

If you’re interested in the drug-testing system, it’s a good read.

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There was a time I passionately defended the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and how we go about choosing award winners and members of the Hall of Fame. Then you read stories like this and you realize it’s a waste of time.

This guy voted for Matt Williams for the Hall of Fame and not Rickey Henderson. He voted for Tommy John and not Rickey Henderson. Oh, and he didn’t vote for Mark McGwire because of the steroids issue. Never mind that Williams was in the Mitchell Report.

This comes on the heels of three (three!) people voting for Edinson Volquez for National League rookie of the year despite his not being a rookie. That is the stupidity equivalent of trying to vote for George Bush again in November.

It’s time the whole thing got blown up. People join the BBWAA because that’s the easiest way to get a credential to cover games. That shouldn’t make them eligible to vote for awards or the Hall of Fame. Let MLB issue credentials and have the BBWAA be an organization of people who actually know and care about baseball.

January is traditionally a slow month for baseball news. So for the second year in a row, we will showcase other blogs with a series of pinch hitters.

Next up is Sean from Yankees Daily.

Sean lives in Livingston and has been blogging for about a year despite being disabled by Lupus. His entry is about the 2001 World Series:

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Game 7 of the 2001 World Series was the worst experience I’ve ever had as a Yankees fan, specifically the ninth inning. Imagine a game where the best reliever of all time in the playoffs is on the mound. He’s on your team and all you need is three outs to win your fourth World Series title in a row. What do you think the outcome would be?

Let’s go back in time a little.

The Yankees were playing the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series and it was tied three games apiece and it was down to one game, Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Winner takes all. New York City was suffering emotionally from Sept. 11. It seemed like the whole country was backing the Yankees because of the tragic events.

There was that magic in the air that you knew the Yankees would win. Destiny was on their side. They would win and help heal New York. It was the bottom of the ninth inning. The Yankees were winning 2-1 and the great Mariano Rivera was pitching. I was getting ready to celebrate another World Series title.

Then something weird happened, the Diamondbacks tied the game and the bases were loaded with one out. And there it was, that typical bloop single that Mariano gives up. The Diamondbacks won the game 3-2 along with the World Series.

I stood up from my chair and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I stared at the television. I felt my heart drop. I’ve never felt this way before in my entire life during a sporting event. I was desperate for answers.

Why? Why would the Yankees be allowed to lose such an important game in New York history? It was their destiny to win this game. They “had” to win this game. It was in the cards. It was a done deal, right? No.

I went outside and started pacing back and forth outside my apartment complex. I then went for a long walk. I came back but I didn’t feel any better. Usually long walks help clear my mind. Not this time. I would suffer from this defeat for a long while.

I wanted to blame someone, but the only person that came to mind was Mariano. But he’s been great in the postseason. Still, I was mad at Mariano for days. I was mad that he only developed one pitch and I started blaming him for the loss. I then started blaming fate for the loss. It felt like a cruel joke was played on the city of New York.

I’ll never forget how lousy I felt during the end of Game Seven of the 2001 World Series. They say time heals all wounds, but I’m still hurting, especially since the Yankees haven’t won since. If you watched that game in 2001, do you remember how you felt afterwards?

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Thanks, Sean. Coming tomorrow: Mike Silva from New York Baseball Digest.

Ken Davidoff mentioned this on his blog today:

Hal Steinbrenner, Jennifer Steinbrenner and Jessica Steinbrenner’s husband Felix Lopez all attended. In a related story, Hank Steinbrenner finally got around to seeing “American Pie Presents Band Camp.”

It’s pretty sad what a pack of chumps New York baseball writers were a year ago (myself included), lining up to quote Hank. Meanwhile Hal was actually running the team.

Mark Teixeira said today he would not be playing for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett said the same thing when they signed.

At the moment, the only Yankees involved for sure are Derek Jeter (United States) and Alex Rodriguez (Dominican Republic).

Robinson Cano has said he wants to play for the Dominicans. But at some point the Yankees will remind him that he was a howling dog in 2008 and needs to stay in camp and take care of business.

Because they finished last season on the disabled list, the Yankees can prohibit Chien-Ming Wang, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui from playing.

Mariano Rivera showed no interest in playing for Panama the last time and is coming off surgery. He’s out.

Is there anybody else who would take the team? Xavier Nady? One of the relievers? It could be a break for the Yankees to keep the bulk of the team together.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox is reporting that the Yankees have signed Angel Berroa to a minor-league contract.

The AL Rookie of the Year in 2003, Berroa has been on a one-way trip to palookaville since.

Berroa is a shortstop with limited experience at second base. The Yankees will see whether he has the versatility to be a backup.

Heard today that the Yankees have signed several guys to minor-league deals. The typically wait to announce them all at once. Most of these players will end up with Scranton.

UPDATE, 9:32 p.m.: For instance, Joel Sherman of the Post is reporting that the Yankees have signed OF John Rodriguez to a minor-league deal.

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Jason Giambi has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with Oakland worth $4.5 million. It includes a $5 million option for 2010 or a $1 million buyout. He and Matt Holliday should give the Athletics the pop they were looking for.

Good luck to The Big G. He had his ups and downs with the Yankees but at least he was an original.

Here’s Mark Teixeira with Hal Steinbrenner as Brian Cashman looks on.

Texiera with agent Scott Boras.

Teixeira gets his pinstripes from Joe Girardi.

Teixeira with his wife, Leigh.

Teixeira signed autographs for construction workers at the new Stadium.

Teixeira with his family: parents John and Margy Teixeira, far left, wife Leigh and sister Elizabeth Durastanti, far right.



Photographs from the Associated Press.

This release from the Indians:

The Cleveland Indians today signed RHP CARL PAVANO to a one-year free agent Major League contract for the 2009 season.

He signed a 4-year free agent Major League contract with the New York Yankees in December of 2004. Carl finished the 2008 season in the New York Yankees rotation, making 7 starts to finish out the campaign on a healthy note (4-2, 5.77ERA, 34.1IP, 41H, 22ER, 10BB, 15K). The New Britain, Connecticut native had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in June of 2007 after making his first career Opening Day start for the Yankees on April 2, 2007 and spent the first 4 months of the 2008 season rehabbing from that procedure.

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Pavano received $1.5 million guaranteed plus another $5.3 million in possible incentives. His agent, Tom O’Connell, should get a prize.

Wouldn’t it be something if Pavano faced the Yankees at the Stadium in April?

Two other things from today (via Sam Borden):

The 40-man roster move was Shelley Duncan being designated for assignment. … Brian Cashman said Phil Coke has been told to prepare to come to camp to work as a starter.

No surprise with the first move. Here’s hoping that Shelley gets a shot someplace else. I think in the right situation, he’ll help a team. It might be a few hours before the Cardinals sign him. … As for Coke, it only makes sense to give a young left-hander every chance to start. At worst, you build up his arm strength. It’s easier to go from the rotation to the bullpen than the other way around.

So unless Pettitte signs, the No. 5 starter candidates are Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Alfredo Aceves, Jason Johnson and Coke.

Some more news from the Bronx via Sam Borden:

The Yankees have signed RHP Jason Johnson to a minor-league deal. Joe Girardi said Johnson would compete to be the fifth starter.