Yankees pregame
Posted by: Brian Heyman - Posted in Misc on May 11, 2011 
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Gene Monahan just had an emotional press conference to explain why he’s retiring at the end of the season when he will be 67. He has seen it all, being the longest tenured person in the organization at 49 years, and has been a Yankees trainer since 1973, the year George Steinbrenner became the principal owner. Monahan broke the news to the players yesterday. But the decision was made last November.
It had a lot to do with his cancer diagnosis.
“I had a big wake-up call a year ago,” Monahan said. “It affected me. Who wouldn’t it affect? … I realized there are some other things in life I need to do.”
So he’s moving to North Carolina where he has purchased a house and where he can follow his beloved NASCAR. He wants to get a pickup truck and a retriever. The Yankees have invited him to help out at spring training, but he isn’t sure yet whether he will.
He said he tried to not to get too close to players, but he did mention a few who were special to him, including the late Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson and Catfish Hunter. The mention of Hunter’s name choked him up.
“I’ll wait to see him a little later,” Monahan said.
Rafael Soriano’s elbow trouble has been a recurring theme for him. He had Tommy John surgery in 2004 and another operation in 2008. Joe Girardi isn’t going to worry yet, especially since there is just a little inflammation, according to today’s MRI. The hope is he’ll be back in a few days.
“If it’s a recurring thing, we’ll start to get more concerned about it,” Girardi said.
For now, Girardi indicated he would go with last night’s setup combo of David Robertson in the seventh and Joba Chamberlain in the eighth, unless one of them needs a rest.
The Yankees did add a more experienced arm to the bullpen, activating Luis Ayala from his rehab assignment and optioning Lance Pendleton back to AAA.
Girardi also praised Russell Martin for his defense, especially for his ability to block balls in the dirt and handle the staff. “I’ve been impressed,” Girardi said.
I’m a little surprised Pendletons going down. They likely just want him to pitch, but he’s done everything they could have wanted.
Best wishes to Gene Monahan. He seems to be a classy guy. Very classy. It must be ver emotional in the clubhouse.
Hey Erin, Cano’s now on Twitter:
RobinsonCano
Hello Twitter! Welcome to my Official Twitter page! Follow me as I tweet exciting news, updates, and contests!
http://twitter.com/#!/RobinsonCano
Joe, could be that with them getting some quality innings from “Kitty” Carlyle and probably out of options, they’d ride him a little longer and get his numbers up enough to include him in a deal. That would be the only reason that I can see for chosing to keep Xarlyle, who’s about 31-32 years old.
Photo of Nova greeting fans today.
http://twitpic.com/4wdsh4
GB
Jose Ramirez pitching tonight for the Riverdogs.
Perhaps this would be a job for Doreen (if some jackass hadn’t posted her personal info), but we’ll have to set the odds on who will be the next Yankee to join twitter.
Burnett? Gardner? A-Rod?
I’m thinking Jeter nor Mo would want anything to do with it.
GB7
I saw ray’s brother last week.
He is driving bus in the state now.
I’m going to try to track him down sometime this summer and try to go to a game.
Pat M, I pity the fool…
In answer to your question GF:
Ledger_Yankees Star Ledger
RT @YankeesPR: Join us in welcoming Robinson Cano ( @RobinsonCano ) and David Robertson ( @drob30 ) to twitter!
46 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply
Aside from Grandy and Martin, most of these guys use Twitter for promotional purposes, not to interact with people.
CC hasn’t posted a genuine tweet since ST of 09. Swisher used to tweet a lot, now it is mainly links and contests and stuff. Tex looks like he is using twitter to promote his charity events.
Thanks, Maine. Was wondering what happened with Ray and Dennis. If you see or hear from Ray, tell him to stop by so we can rag on him.
Hope all is going well with you and the wild moose.
My question was provoked because I saw the two newest twitterers (if that’s a word).
#
# Tom in N.J. May 11th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Hey Erin, Cano’s now on Twitter:
RobinsonCano
Hello Twitter! Welcome to my Official Twitter page! Follow me as I tweet exciting news, updates, and contests!
http://twitter.com/#!/RobinsonCano
***************************
Yay!!!!
Swish (@NickSwisher) interacts
Oh…well I hadn’t seen that anyone mentioned that DRob is on twitter.
Giuseppe Franco May 11th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Perhaps this would be a job for Doreen (if some jackass hadn’t posted her personal info), but we’ll have to set the odds on who will be the next Yankee to join twitter.
Burnett? Gardner? A-Rod?
I’m thinking Jeter nor Mo would want anything to do with
*************************
I swear, I actually had a dream last week that Gardner joined Twitter. LOL
Somehow I can’t see Alex or AJ joining.
“Swish (@NickSwisher) interacts”
He used to do it much more though in 09
GB7
I saw ray’s brother at my fathers viewing, so things have been a bit unsettling.
I haven’t heard from the Moose lately so I can’t say how they are doing.
Ayala’s back and Pendelton is being sent back down.
Pendelton made the most of his limited opportunities while he was here.
He wasn’t married in 09.
Alex, at one time, did the twitter.
MaineYankee May 11th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
GB7
I saw ray’s brother at my fathers viewing, so things have been a bit unsettling.
I haven’t heard from the Moose lately so I can’t say how they are doing
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Maine, was unaware of your father’s passing. My condolences to you and family. Best wishes to you and them.
I fugured that there were so many moose around there that you let a few of them stay in the house, since ya’ll are about as redneck as it gets. Down here, the rednecks let the hogs stay in the house when it gets cold and rainly outside.
***rainy***
Maine-
My sympathies on the loss of your Father.
Flash17YES It is all about AJ handling the running game of KC tonight at the stadium.
Flash17YES Mixed emotions about Gene Monahan announcing his retirement. Great guy who will be missed but deserves time to enjoy himself
YankeesPR Ivan Nova poses for a photo while greeting fans at Gate 4
http://twitpic.com/4wdsh4
YankeesPR Freddy Garcia is saying hi to fans as they enter the Stadium through Gate 4!
http://twitpic.com/4wdt2h
MaineYankee-very sorry to hear about your father.
GB7 MTU
Thanks.
He was 85 and worn out.
——————————————————
GB7
I’ll have you know we are quite refined up here.
Erin
Thanks
What was the deal w/Alfredo Aceves last night?
His cap was dripping like a leaky faucet. That was just an unnatural amount of sweating, considering he was in Toronto in May.
“I’m sweating like Alfredo Aceves over here”
Maine,
My condolences.
I liked Freddy’s analysis of Swishers diving catch last night.
“Safe!”
Personally I thought it was an out but I’m not going to complain with the way he’s throwing the ball.
Sorry to hear about your loss Maine.
Thanks
Tom & Bronx
Maine,
my condolences to you and your family.
Great career for Monahan…..I hadn’t heard he had been diagnosed with cancer, hope it’s a treatment type. Sounds like he’s retiring to a great place….wonder if he’s moving to Cary, NC (aka Collecting Area for Retired Yankees
)
maine,
condolences for your loss.
let’s hope the yankees can get a win and bring you some happines
blake
Thanks
Condolences and best wishes, Maine.
kd
Thanks.
I’m all for that.
MaineYankee May 11th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
GB7 MTU
Thanks.
He was 85 and worn out.
——————————————————
GB7
I’ll have you know we are quite refined up here.
———————————————————————————————————————-
Right, you only let the moose inside after they’re housebroke, huh?
The cancer was a year ago and I guess he beat it or at least it’s in remission.
I think Gene is just saying that life isn’t forever and there’s some other things he’d like to do other than treat injured baseball players. Like drive around in pick-up truck with a dog and watch NASCAR.
Nick
Thanks.
Next thing that Maine will tell everyone is that he only assoxiates with moose whose ancesters came over on the Mayflower.
GB7
We only let them in when they go in the freezer.
***associates***
“I think Gene is just saying that life isn’t forever and there’s some other things he’d like to do other than treat injured baseball players. Like drive around in pick-up truck with a dog and watch NASCAR.”
nothin wrong with that…..good to hear.
GB7
The moose here are tougher than that.
They swam over.
I’m hoping the curse of the AAA pitcher doesn’t strike the Yanks again tonight….I’d love to see them pound one of these guys for a change.
Having never had a moose burger or moose steak, I’ll have to ask you about the best way to prepare them, Maine. Do you BBQ them or just eat ‘em raw?
never had moose before but I had an elk chop this past weekend and it was very good.
I would love to meet Ivan Nova. I won a signed cap when I went to a Scranton game as part of the LoHud outing, two years ago, you know, when the blog was something besides trolling, nonsense, and violating personal privacy.
Anyway, I’d love to meet Nova. Garcia wouldn’t be bad, either.
One of the better stories to come out of the ’78 Yankees team was about GMS and Gene M.
Because of all of the early season injuries and DL moves, GMS was getting upset and around May, he walked into the clubhouse and took a roll of white medical tape and put about a 6 foot letter “P up on the wall, and told them to leave it there. He walked out of the cluhouse without telling them what it meant. After the series, one of the players asked about it and GMS said, “Probation”. If another player went on the DL, he was firing Gene M. Injuries stopped and pkayers like Hunter returned. GMS took credit for that.
Test