Yankees honoring Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Sep 25, 2010 
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Here’s the press release from the Yankees.
The New York Yankees will honor the first-ever Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day and Special Olympics on Saturday, September 25, when two extraordinary Special Olympics athletes from the Bronx will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Yankees-Red Sox game scheduled to begin at 4:10 p.m.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics founder, Best Buddies board member, and champion of all people with intellectual disabilities passed away last August. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (www.eksday.org) has been created as an annual celebration of her life and global call for people to commit actions of inclusion, acceptance and unity for and with individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Yankees are hoping to extend the goal of inspiring new fans to experience the impact of Shriver’s legacy and embrace the movement she started.
Throwing out Saturday’s ceremonial first pitch will be two athletes from Special Olympics New York – John Eacobacci and Ivelisse Caraballo. John is 50 years old and has been a Special Olympics athlete for more than 20 years. He is a bowler, who has won dozens of medals throughout this time with Special Olympics and he is also a huge Yankees fan. Ivelisse is 46 years old and participates in softball skills. She too has been a Special Olympics athlete for more than 20 years and has won dozens of medals.
Every Yankee starter threw on 3 days rest at some point last postseason and the only reason they didn’t do it more was because all 3 series wrapped up fairly quick
Once the big man goes out there in game 1 of the ALDS and dominates all this talk about momentum or backing into the playoffs or poor play will gown down the tunes
Doreen September 25th, 2010 at 11:11 am
I think the way Joe went about the last several weeks was injury driven. If the team is healthy, I doubt he “goes for” the wild card.
Losing Nick Johnson really hurt the team a lot. It compromised Girardi’s plan that worked so well last year of rotating rest around his older, or achier, players. Being able to give Damon and Matsui planned rests definitely added to their ability to “be there” during the playoffs last season.
What we have to hope is that all this late season rest for guys works out. But it’s different getting rest just for the sake of rest, and rest to give injuries a chance to subside a little. I think putting ARod on the DL with his calf worked out well for them.
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I think this post should be the response to every moaning post about the A Team and pedal to the metal.
fwiw, the numbers show that carrying momentum into the playoffs is entirely overrated.
from ESPN:
“A look at ‘hot’ teams heading into the postseason uncovers this truth: Momentum is a myth. Of the 20 playoff teams in the wild-card era that went 8-2 or better over the final 10 regular-season games, only two won the Series (the 2005 White Sox and 1998 Yankees). That’s right, 18 of 20 sizzling teams flamed out. The flip side is just as revealing. Three of the seven playoff teams that stumbled to a 3-7 finish or worse during the same period won it all. Now check out a fascinating study by Dave Studeman of the sabermetrics website The Hardball Times. Ten years of data show that when teams face off in the playoffs, September records actually have a negative correlation with winning the series.”
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb.....id=5608355
So just because a new manager MIGHT possibly be bad, I should be thankful if Joe stays? I think he’s still going to be here after this year, so it’s probably moot, but I’ll take my chances.
As to the Phillies, no point in thinking about them until we get there, which is no sure thing.
Anyone still doubt that the 2010 World Series matchup will be between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays ? And that the Tampa Bay Rays will be the 2010 World Champions ?
I didn’t think so.
Meanwhile, our Yankees will be bounced in the first round in three games — that is, assuming we will make it into the playoffs in the first place (which I don’t think we will).
It becomes pretty obvious after a while the people who just watch the Yankees and the people who check in on other teams.
The people that have dire concens about this team really have no perspective whatsoever on the competition they will be facing.
I mean for all the talk about how awful this team has played have you ever stopped and thought to yourself for a minute how they have remained in first place all that time and now .5 games out?
I guess complaining and fear is easier than actual evaluative thought.
“So just because a new manager MIGHT possibly be bad, I should be thankful if Joe stays? ”
No, you should be thankful the Yankees have a manager that thinks of his players long term best interest, doesn’t throw players under the bus, has a good relationship with the front office that doesn’t cause distractions and has the key players on the team willing to follow his lead.
Pat, then let’s just agree to disagree. Joe has a lot of good qualities, but there are other managers that have those qualities and I would not keep re-signing him just because I’m afraid of what might happen with another manager.
“It becomes pretty obvious after a while the people who just watch the Yankees and the people who check in on other teams.
The people that have dire concerns about this team really have no perspective whatsoever on the competition they will be facing.”
Post of the day.
LGY, I really don’t see the problem with not having an overwhelming confidence in the team. I don’t think being a fan means you have to think they are the greatest. I am not predicting doom for this team by any means, but yes – I would be surprised if they went deep in the playoffs because they have shown no ability to get and stay on a hot streak short of that 8 game streak. To me, it’s a wait and see game. I’m not predicting failure for them nor am I predicting success. I agree all the teams are evenly matched.
In the postseason, many fans expect that the marquee players will be the big producers but in many cases the least likely heroes make their mark.
Brian Doyle, Scott Brosius ans so many more have been big Yankee producers.
Betsy
Who would you prefer to have as manager that has all the good qualities but none of the ones you don’t like in Girardi?
It’s always a wait and see game, no?
Scott Bros had the knack of coming the knack coming through with timely hits. We had that in the form of Arod, and to a lesser extent, the Godz last year.
Thames and Berkman will be tested in this playoff and is Gardner, Damon’s replacement.
Do you spend more than 200M to be one and done? Joe would definitely be on the hot seat in that scenario and Cashman might be in danger as well.
After all, wasn’t it the Stein bro’s that stepped in to sign Arod back up?
They might think they know more about running the team. Ala the BOSS.
Any time a poster is critical, we have to hear about how good the yankees record is…blah, blah, blah.
Their record is good because they played so well at the beginning of the season, and that has saved their a$$es ever since.
Well April and May were a long time ago. They have not played all that well for an extended period now. Since August 1st, they’ve gone 26-25. Over the course of a season that’s not a playoff calibur team.
I’m not saying that dooms them, but I just think the “well look at their record” defense doesn’t hold water. There is absolutely reason for concern.
“Scott Bros had the knack of coming the knack coming through with timely hits. We had that in the form of Arod, and to a lesser extent, the Godz last year.”
A-Rod and Brosius in the same sentence, Cash? Really?
timely hits put them in the sentence , Rich.
I am not comparing those two as players , I just woke up
The fact is, every game counts. If they are in this position because they won early in the season, so be it. They have a chance to wipe the slate clean once the playoffs start. And LGY is right, the other clubs are all that intimidating.
Cash, not talking about you, but this may be the funniest thing I have ever read about Yankees on the net:
http://sportszilla.blogspot.co.....ndown.html
Question arising from these developments: If the Yankees win the 2006 World Series, will the Scott Brosius Fan Club, aka the psychotic wing of Yankees fandom, finally consider Alex Rodriguez worthy of his roster spot, or will they claim the team won in spite of him?
Not all that intimidating.
“Do you spend more than 200M to be one and done? Joe would definitely be on the hot seat in that scenario and Cashman might be in danger as well.”
Not a chance … they are the defending world champs and if they lose in the first round of the playoffs in defense of their title, I can say with absolute certainty that neither Cashman or Girardi will be in trouble. Hal Steinbrenner is running the show now and his personality is the exact opposite of The Boss. He is even-keeled, objective, and pragmatic.
The only possible way “heads would roll” would be if the Yankees have a collapse for the ages and somehow blow a playoff spot over these next 10 days. Anything short of that, Girardi is back as manager next year unless he decides to bolt for the Cubs. And if that happens, Brian Cashman will be the one hiring the next manager.
And believe me, Red Sox fans would trade their April and May for our September.
The Scotty Effect
Although his performance over the next three years did not match that of his 1998 season, he remained a fan favorite. During his career with the Yankees, they won the American League pennant every year, from 1998 to 2001, as well as the World Series from 1998 to 2000. Brosius won the World Series MVP Award and was an All-Star in 1998. He won a Gold Glove in 1999.
Girardi will need to adjust his managerial strategies in the postseason. Waiting for the home run bailout in later innings just won’t cut it. Live by the home run – die by the home run.
Scratching and clawing for runs in early innings is always helpful in getting to the opponent’s bullpen sooner than later.
What a nice thing for the Yankees to do.
I’m a bit younger, so you’ll have to understand my frame of reference, but I have an affinity for the Shrivers more than the rest of the Kennedy’s.
I really, really wanted the Yankees to let Brosius go after the 1998 season and keep Mike Lowell.
The very reason that Nova and Moseley are toeing the mound the next two days can be directly attributed to Javier colossal collapse as pitcher , yet again , in a Yankee uniform.
Just go away, you Thief and loser!
sorry I am busy with my Javy hate rant … err… I forgot about lowell and Brosius coincided Rich. They got little in return for him from the Marlins if I am right.
If Girardi bookends a WS with missing the playoffs and a first round loss, they will offer him a one year deal. $213M of payroll needs to be handled better than that.
Kearns, Thames and Cervelli in today. Gardner, Berkman, Posada out today.
Cashmoney
From Lowell’s B-R.com page:
February 1, 1999: Traded by the New York Yankees to the Florida Marlins for Todd Noel (minors), Mark Johnson and Ed Yarnall.
Cashman has said it may have been his worst trade.
To me, it should have been a case of getting rid of a player (Brosius) a year too early rather than a year to late.
Cashman actually tried to get Burnett in that deal.
Sad to watch Lowell play now. The man moves in slow motion.
Yeah , that is little in return. Actually , I think at one point Ed Yarnall was compared favorably against Ted Lilly , his minor league contemporary.
I think in retrospect , that was Cashman’s worst trade. Jeff Weaver has to be up there as well.
I was in favor of the Weaver trade. He had a 134 ERA+ for the Tigers in 2002 and a 110 for the Yankees, and I thought that he was just beginning to find himself.
I was a Lily fan, so I wasn’t too happy about it. I really did not know Weaver that well, except, I remember with his arm slot and repertoire I thought he was going to have trouble with lefties.
Rich ,I just looked it up 342 Avg and 924 OPS vs LHB in 427 PA in 2003. Gaaaah!