Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 10, 2009 
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The Yankees finished off their sweep of the Red Sox but it took some late-inning heroics.
Sam Borden writes that that the Boston-New York rivalry always delivers drama.
Boston’s slump has become a nightmare. Ernie Palladino has the story.
Chad Gaudin arrived in the thick of a pennant race. This notebook also has updates on Alfredo Aceves, David Ortiz and assorted facts and figures.
Sergio Mitre is pitching for his job tonight as the Yankees line up replacements behind him.
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Just a reminder: The reader Q&A with Yogi Berra — a LoHud Yankees Blog Exclusive — will be on on line at 10 a.m. today.
Boston is just suffering from the same symptoms that we used to suffer from: Old, washed up, steroid-using DH/1B types are flooding their roster. Their big pitching contracts aren’t panning out (Dice-K) and they seem to be without any real ML players at some positions (SS/C)
REPOST (sorry)
I know there is a lot of baseball left, but I just want to enjoy this happy moment right now. This is a brief fleeting opportunity to feel like all is right in the Yankee Universe.
So hard to imagine the yanks sweeping the sux when they had to throw a washed up number four in the finale! (grins all the way to the bank)
Let’s enjoy this moment of having the Yankees up 6.5 in the AL East. Boston is going to have to do a lot of catching up. But,with that rotation…
Erica, I agree with you. The Yankees are playing the best baseball they have in years. We should all sit back and enjoy it.
Pete-
How do you explain to Yogi Berra what a blog is??
great time to be a Yankee fan…makes that 0-8 seem like a distant memory
Agreed Charlestonchew. I admit I don’t follow the minor leagues, but wasn’t Boston’s boy wonder gm said to have put together a very good farm??? Where’s the help from there?
Then again, who cares?
Right now, I’m with Erica. It’s good to be a Yankee fan!
Many great performances over the 4 games, but a special congrats to Andy. He continues to amaze.
my favorite part of last nite’s game was after Tex’s HR, Cano, Melky and Swish were all dancing lol. What a great moment.
Five observations this morning:
1. Best weekend of Yankee Baseball since the last Boston Massacre in 2006. Not just the wins. The quality of play, which was outstanding, and the different ways they found to win each game. It shows this team is different than the last several Yankees teams. Leading me to point #2.
2. Why can’t some Yankee “fans” enjoy this team? Stop crying about everything. I get the one tool on here who is the Arod Stalker. There is always one crackpot on every blog.
Seriously though, what’s not to like about this team? For once, stop secondguessing every move and crying about everything that goes wrong and ENJOY what you are seeing. This is the best Yankee team since the Dynasty. Remember that when you lose your mind if they are trailing 1-0 in the third tonight.
3. How do you think Larry Luchhino feels everytime Mark Teixeira does something against the Red Sox. If he could have kept his mouth shut in that infamous Dallas Meeting, Tex is doing that for the Red Sox. His mouth may have changed the dynamics of this rivalry for years.
4. For all the talk of the “vaunted” Red Sox farm system, take a good look at the Yankee roster and the age of some of the contributors. Its a shame Baseball America can’t do the same.
5. The beauty of baseball…..for all the joy of this weekend, new game, against a new team, tonight. Gotta keep winning series because NOTHING has been won yet.
Although, it is nice to see Boston fans in full meltdown mode (Except for Dennis and Ray, two really good guys) this morning.
Pete?
If you get a minute, can you ask Swisher why he sprayed his batting helmet (the NY logo) gold?
Not sure how he’s got away with that, but it looks kinda cool, mainly because he didn’t spray it very well, and it looks rock and roll.
If Jack Black played baseball…
I agree with benfica(good club btw).They really seem to have fun playing on this team
Here is a good listen all three calls ESPN, STerling and Boston radio of the back to back HR. The Boston guy Castiglione sounds heartbroken on Tex HR
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.....id=6021619
The homers ARod hit the past two nights – those were the type of homers Reggie hit. Big bombs in big situations.
Sandman- isn’t that pine tar on Swish’s helmet? Or some kind of stick stuff? It looks like Manny’s helmet.
“Boston starter Tim Wakefield is set to throw two simulated innings tonight as he works his way back from a lower back strain. “If the team we play promises not to bunt, we’ll play him,” Francona said.”
That Francona is a likable dude… too bad he manages the enemy.
Pete, Thank you for all the great NYY coverage and for providing this great forum for all NYY fans to write what we think about the team, games etc. !
Is is just my computer or are Pete’s hyperlinks to the articles too hard spot in the sentence? They seem to be the same color when on other blogs they are a different color or underlined. I find myself having to place my cursor over the entire passage in order to find the link. Just wondering if this is my problem or the site’s.
gayle,
Thanks for the links. Love hearing Castiglione’s defeated voice especially!
For me the icing on the cake last night was MPB Johnny Damon and Tex breaking a Yankee record held by names like Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio. Those are pretty big names
SJ- it is also annoying to hear repeatedly how this team was bought, ignoring the high number of home grown players (not to dismiss the contributions of AJ, CC, Tex and A-rod etc)
That must feel good for Damon, hitting a key HR like that, vs the team that let him walk away.
Upstate Kate-
Completely right. In fact, the current 25 man roster has 7 Yankees (that I can think of off the top of my head) that have never played at the MLB level for any other team: Hughes, Joba, Cano, Melky, Jeter, Mo, and Posada (although the last 3 were kept with the help of free agency dollars).
The homers ARod hit the past two nights – those were the type of homers Reggie hit. Big bombs in big situations.
==========
actually Teixiera’s home run was more similar to a Reggie Home run where it seemed to go higher than it did far.
Arod garned more good will with Yankee fans in two days than he did in his previous 6 years in pinstripes. Now all he has to do is have a decent October and all will be forgiven forever.
I think Arod and Teixiera have really fed off each other this year in a way that has made both better players. Teixiera is taking advantage of pitchers throwing him strikes and Arod is really thriving in the role of not having to be the man.
Pete, I’m listening to the Boss this AM as I revel in the NYY sweep! Great day!
Some miths dispelled this weekend.
The Yankees can’t beat the RS.
The Yankees bullpen can’t match the RS.
The RS are the best team in baseball.
The RS have the best starting pitchers in baseball.
Theo is the best GM in baseball and showing everyone how to build a team.
myths dispelled
Erica, forgot to mention- your PBF is AWESOME
Alex Rodriguez has quietly become ‘a grinder’.
I think having Tex on the team has really benefited A-rod, that long hug after A-rod’s GWHR said it all.
coke, robertson, pena, matsui, Hughes, Joba, Cano, Melky, Jeter, Mo and Jorge and Ace. 12/25 homegrown, 13 if you wanna include andy.
Local RS fans were really bothered to see Damon hit that home run. Compared it to sitting next to an ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.
I see the same thing, Kate. There seems to be a genuine affection and bond between Teixeira and Alex.
Andy’s a lot more homegrown than Matsui is. Matsui was a FA from another Major League. He wasn’t homegrown, though in America he’s only been a Yankee.
Andy’s a homegrown player. Always.
“3. How do you think Larry Luchhino feels everytime Mark Teixeira does something against the Red Sox. If he could have kept his mouth shut in that infamous Dallas Meeting, Tex is doing that for the Red Sox. His mouth may have changed the dynamics of this rivalry for years.”
Hey SJ,
What exactly did Larry Luchhino say to rub Tex the wrong way? Did he just come off like a jerk?
Also, Pete made a comment last night about AJ and CC using dip. Aren’t these guys smart enough to stay away from that stuff? Both are family men correct? And both have huge contracts. Do they really want to die of cancer early in life? Unless Pete meant they were chewing gum i’m pretty sure he meant tobacco.
benfica356
August 10th, 2009 at 9:38 am
coke, robertson, pena, matsui, Hughes, Joba, Cano, Melky, Jeter, Mo and Jorge and Ace. 12/25 homegrown, 13 if you wanna include andy.
****
Include Andy (but I was only listing Yankees who were always Yankees).
I think Matsui is iffy, he wasn’t ever exactly a young rookie, but I guess he qualifies the criteria
Yankees should definitely make the playoffs if the starters continue to one up each other on the mound.
Not to ruin the moment but this is our schedule vs Boston’s from 9/18 on: [Away games in bold]
Boston:
ORIOLES 3
KC 4
NYY 3
TORONTO 3
Indians 4
14 /17 with teams out of the race, but 14 away games.
Yankees:
SEATTLE 3
LAA 3
Boston 3
Royals 3
RAYS 3
Yankees need to stay focused, find a way to make sure Joba is available to pitch important innings in the playoffs, and stay healthy.
Wouldn’t it be great if we win the division and the wild card comes from the West!
Go Yankees!
upstate kate
August 10th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Erica, forgot to mention- your PBF is AWESOME
***
That is what I have been saying all season. I don’t know why people don’t always believe me!!!!
Although, I did go on the record the first game after the ASB and tell everyone that Johnny would have a second half so amazing that he will everyone beg for his return.
So far he has held up to his end of the deal
Also, Andy signing with the Astros was in many ways a good thing. If he had re-signed we don’t have Phil Hughes.
Also, Andy signing with the Astros was in many ways a good thing. If he had re-signed we don’t have Phil Hughes.
————————————————-
Was Phil Hughes our compensation pick for Andy signing with the Astros?
Yankee Trder:
Yes, “Philip Hughes (Yankees-1) – Pick from Astros as compensation for Free Agent Andy Pettitte”.
http://www.baseball-reference......ft_round=1
Lucchino was abrasive and confrontational to Boras in the meeting. Challenging his contention there was a “higher offer” on the table than the Red Sox.
It degenerated from there and it opened the door for the Yankees to swoop in and get him.
Larry’s mouth has changed the dynamics of the rivalry.
The Red Sox are now going to have to give up some significant parts on the off-season if they want to get Adrian Gonzalez.
All avoidable if Lucchino could have kept his mouth and ego in check.
Thanks Larry. As John Sterling would say, “He’s done it again”! First time with Damon, now with Tex. Well done.
More goodish news for the Yanks – in addition to missing Halladay and most likely missing Felix Hernandez, the Red Sox rotation is lining up so that the Yanks will face Penny, whomever is behind curtain #5 at the time, and then Beckett in Boston.
With only one odd day, and few options to rearrange the rotation, Yanks are almost certain to miss Lester.
“Local RS fans were really bothered to see Damon hit that home run. Compared it to sitting next to an ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend”
maine yankee-
you forgot to mention the boyfriend would probably be related too
randy
You implying something.
Tom in NJ-
Thanks for the link. Looks like we also got a catcher, a John Poterson, later on in that round, plus Jeffrey Marquez as compensation for losing David Wells.
What exactly did Larry Luchhino say to rub Tex the wrong way? Did he just come off like a jerk?
no, he was just being himself.
i mean, yes, he was just being himself
wasn’t he sent home during the arod negotiations with texas by henry ?
you’d think they’d leave him behind the scenes whenever things are important.
“What exactly did Larry Luchhino say to rub Tex the wrong way? Did he just come off like a jerk?”
SJ44 has never said what Larry said to Tex that turned him off. I don’t think he’s comfortable revealing that information. But you gotta believe that it was pretty bad since after the Yankees made their offer, Tex never even went back to BOS to see if they could beat it.
“You implying something.”
of course, the girlfriend might be related too .
it can get very complicated explaining second cousins up there
SJ-
I second the question posed earlier…
What exactly did Luchino say to rub Teixeira the wrong way?
Whatever it was, glad he blurted it out.
Let’s just say he was “himself”, as Randy would say, and leave it at that.
“If you get a minute, can you ask Swisher why he sprayed his batting helmet (the NY logo) gold?”
It’s pine tar.
Yankee Trder:
Yes, “Philip Hughes (Yankees-1) – Pick from Astros as compensation for Free Agent Andy Pettitte”.
http://www.baseball-reference……ft_round=1
——————————————————
2004 was also the year we signed Pavano and Jaret Wright to replace Pettitte and Wells in the rotation.
Lesson: Don’t ever sign a pitcher the Braves don’t want to resign.
Chris Hammond
Jaret Wright
Kyle Farnsworth
Others?
However, Mike Stanton turned out OK.
JMHO-
Teixeira wanted to be a Yankee in the first place and was hoping an offer would be made.
Trader: you forgot John Smoltz
Steve Karsay too.
i’m having a moral dilemma .
maybe the blog can help.
a long time friend and die hard red sox fan who works at the liquor store next door would flash me all summer finger signs from his business doorway to mine- 3 for a three game lead, 2 for a two game lead etc., and a not so nice one finger for a one game lead.
should i sweep in front of his store after i sweep in front of mine or would that be poor sportsmanship?
Randy, it’s only fair that you do it back since it sounds like its all in good fun anyway.
Sweep Randy sweep!
Randy, if your business is in NYC and you have a connection with the sanit department, you should try to borrow one of our giant street sweeper cleaning trucks.
today is a great day to be a yankee fan
Penny looks like he could be wearing down. He has been hurt alot the last few years, this is the most he has pitched since 2004. The innings load looks to be finally getting to him. No question they need Wakefield back to at least give them a good starting 3.
Hey! I’m a diehart Yankees fans since the 1970s. I’m upset about all this stuff about Kate and Alex; where’s the proof, so what she’s a yankees fan too. This not helping Alex. After the kissing he argued with umpires, went on a slump. Then he bounce back and here she come again and what does the New York Post do write an article about her being his lucky charm and he plays last night and throws bats and rolls his eyes at cameras. Jessica and Tony; Kim and Reggie were publicly seen, without hiding, other more places than Jessica and Kim in the stands. Why is everyone trying to figure this out anyway? What’s the secret? Stop the madness! It’s messing with Alex game.