Yankees send out All-Star game invoice, second job needed

Invoices are due no later than: May 23, 2008.

The Yankees sent out an email to season ticket holders today, alerting us that our All-Star game invoice is in the mail. Check out the link to the official Yankee website for all of the info.

No real new information here except for the prices. This disclaimer is put in capital letters:

NOTE: THE SEATING LOCATIONS FOR ALL-STAR SUMMER EVENTS AT YANKEE STADIUM MAY NOT BE THE SAME SEATING LOCATIONS AS LICENSEE’S FULL SEASON, A PLAN OR B PLAN TICKETS.

So, if you sit in great seats behind home plate, don't expect the same thing for the All-Star game. Also, they force you to buy a whole strip of tickets for each seat you have:
[UPDATE (4/30 - 10:20 AM): On my invoice it indicates that the seats are in the same location as my season tickets, so I am assuming that means the tickets will be there? Or are they just referencing my season tickets? I'm confused. Any input in the comments section would be appreciated.]

DHL All-Star FanFest Tickets and All-Star Program: All Full Season, A Plan and B Plan Licensees identified above must purchase a minimum of two (2) Tickets to the DHL All-Star FanFest and one (1) All-Star Program for each full strip of Tickets purchased for All-Star Summer Events. For example, if such Licensee purchases four (4) full strips of Tickets for All-Star Summer Events, such Licensee must also purchase eight (8) DHL All-Star FanFest Tickets and four (4) All-Star Programs.

Check out the link on Yankees.com for all of the confusing information. All I know is that there is an invoice for almost $1,000 sitting in my pending invoices section of my Yankees account, and I would be silly not to pay it by the due date, May 23, 2008.

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Robinson Cano - The worst hitter in baseball?

Obviously, we know that Robinson Cano isn't the worst hitter in baseball... Right?

Sadly, thus far in 2008, Robinson Cano is dead last among qualified batters in OPS.

Don't believe me? Check it out here.

This horrid start by Cano reminds me of simpler times back in 2005 when everyone's favorite whipping boy, Tony Womack, amassed a .556 OPS in 329 ABs. Sadly, he did not qualify for the worst in the category (not enough ABs), but one would assume over the course of the full season, he would have easily beat out 2005 OPS basement dweller Adam Everett.

Interestingly enough, that terrible season by Womack is what gave Robinson Cano the chance to do what he is doing now.

I'm still not down on Cano yet. If the date read May 28 and not April 28, I would be ready to hit the eject button. On the more negative side of things, Cano's extremely high ground ball percentage, and terrible patience at the plate certainly have me a bit worried.

Boy, what I would give to be John Sterling. I was listening to the game on the radio for a few minutes yesterday and I heard him talking about how this will be "the worst 100 ABs Cano will ever have in his career" (lets hope). He followed that up by saying that if this were someone who didn't have a history of being an over .300 hitter, one would assume he just can't hit a lick. However, John pointed out that this is Robinson Cano we are talking about, so "just think how many hits he has coming to him for the rest of the season". Sadly, it does not work that way, John. Ignorance is bliss.


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Down on the farm - Alan Horne injury update...

If you follow the Yankees farm teams, you will remember that top prospect Alan Horne came down with a strained biceps muscle in his throwing arm a couple of weeks back. The Yankees rested him for a couple of weeks, and yesterday, he threw from a mount for the first time since the injury. Here is the update directly from his father, Bill:

Also, talked with Alan today. He threw the planned work-out at 60'. Said everything went well, said his arm was strong and felt good but he could tell that he still had to stretch it back out carefully until he had the biceps back up to speed.

Hopefully there will be no setbacks and Alan can get right back on the road to the show. With all of the injuries the Yankees have been coming down with lately, I wouldn't be surprised if Alan got his shot sometime in the near future.

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What a difference a year makes

Imagine one year ago today, I told you that Phil Hughes, Ross Ohlendorf and Joba Chamberlain all pitched a couple of innings for the Yankees in a game on the previous night. First of all, you would be ecstatic that the young guns were getting a chance to shine. Next, you would wonder what crazy circumstances led to the pride of the farm turning into the core of the team. One thing would be certain - there is no way you come away from watching the game with those participants and have a sour taste in your mouth.

So, fast forward a year, and you know that all three of those guys DO play an integral role on the 2008 New York Yankees. All three pitched last night, and because of rain curtailing what should have been a bounce-back start for Phil, a terrible outing from Ohlendorf and a game-ending hit off of Joba, I am left feeling pretty bad about last night's game.

The White Sox should have been swept last night, but because Girardi was being justifiably careful with the very young Hughes, and because of a couple of disappointing outings from the other young guys, they let the sweep slip from their grasps.

We all pined for the Yankees to develop from within and have "home-grown talent" to root for again. Because of that, we'll have to take the good with the bad.

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At this very moment...

Journalistic magic is occurring as George King III writes the predictable article about the Yankees being a better team without A-Rod since they have won 2 straight since his quad injury/ birth of his child. I just can't wait until it hits the world wide web so I can ridicule it!


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Growing Pains for the manager too - Girardi lets Jorge make the call

UPDATE (4/24 8:00 AM): According to the post game show last night, there was a miscommunication between Mussina/Posada and Girardi. Girardi thought that Jorge was saying Moose had nothing left, but he was telling him there was nothing wrong with him. I know this much - no manager likes to do what Girardi did in the video below and it was embarrassing. Girardi will know to make sure before making the pitching change next time.

Very awkward moment on YES tonight. Moose gave up his second HR of the game in the 7th inning with 2 outs and Girardi came out of the dugout, met everyone at the mound and began to signal for the righty in the pen. As he was touching his arm to make the call, Jorge said something and stopped him from doing so. Girardi bowed to his former dynasty-mate and kept Moose in.

This is already the second time this year that Girardi has deferred to one of his former teammates when making a pitching decision. A couple of starts ago, he came out to the mound with first base open and Manny coming up in a game against the Red Sox. He let Mussina convince him that he could pitch to Manny that day - a game-winning double ensued. Tonight's incident was way lower leverage and had a considerably smaller downside, but it still shows Girardi's inexperience. This incident was a bit embarrassing, and the YES cameras caught it in all of its glory.

I don't pine for old sleepy Joe one little bit, but can anyone imagine this sort of thing happening with Torre at the helm? Nope, neither can I... You know what though? I'm happy about this - Girardi will learn, the players will learn and it will be a nice learning experience for everyone.

(UPDATE 4/24/ 7:45 AM): Lisa over at Subway Squawkers has pointed out the instance a couple of years back when Moose was set to pitch a complete game, but started struggling in the 9th. Torre came out of the dugout and Moose immediately pointed for him to go back to the dugout. Obviously, Torre had plenty of experience, but STILL deferred to Mike Mussina. Yes, this example was different, with the culprit being Girardi's former backup (haha) Jorge Posada, but remembering back to Torre's days, maybe I was a bit quick to assume something like this would not have taken place then.

Don't believe any of this happened? Check it out (be sure to watch all the way to the end to see Girardi and Jorge's exchange as YES went to commercial):



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FireGeorgeKingIII.com? My obsession continues - more A-Rod bashing

Wohooooo! Three A-Rod posts in a row! Guess I'm falling into the trap. Anyway, I would like to preface this with the disclaimer that I DO NOT read the NY Post (or any of the NY tabloids). However, people bring this stuff to my attention, and I just have to ridicule it.

Our good buddy George King III (thanks again for that photo exclusive G-Dog), sneaked a bit of A-Rod bashing into last night's NY Post game story, even though A-Rod was probably cooing at his baby in the hospital as the game was being played.

The win, which didn't include Alex Rodriguez who was nursing a sore right quad muscle in Miami, where his second daughter was born Monday night, was the Yankees' second straight and hiked their record to 11-10.

After watching Billy Traber and Brian Bruney load the bases with one out in the seventh and the Yankees leading 6-3, Joe Girardi called for Chamberlain.

He struck out Carlos Quentin, walked Joe Crede after being ahead of him, 1-2, to force in a run and left the bases drunk by getting Juan Uribe on a pop-up.

Chamberlain hurled a scoreless eighth when he worked with a five-run bulge thanks' to Damon's second homer in as many games.

"You kick yourself when you walk people," Chamberlain said. "I gave [the run] up for Billy."

Wang, who gave up three runs and 10 hits in six innings, won his 50th big-league game in his 85th start. That's the quickest to 50 since Dwight Gooden won his 50th game in his 82nd start. Ron Guidry won his 50th game in his 82nd start in 1979.

Since he is hitting .150 (3-for-20) with runners in scoring position, Rodriguez wasn't missed by the Yankees in the clutch. Nobody knows when he will return to the lineup. But for one night Abreu, Giambi and Damon supplied the muscle that Rodriguez is famous for.

The first mention is completely acceptable. Yankees playing without Rodriguez = big story. However, after typical game story stuff, George King III shows his typical A-Rod hatred. Someone, anyone, PLEASE tell me how that paragraph in bold above was AT ALL pertinent to the game story?

One day we will find out the truth behind a couple of the great mysteries of New York Sports. The photos that Isiah Thomas has of James Dolan in a precarious position will be revealed and we will find out some wacked-out connection between George King III and A-Rod that will lead to an epiphany about his obvious hatred.

Does a photo exist of George King III exist on the interwebs? I can't seem to find one. I want to create a logo for these posts. Let me know in the comments.

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NYYSI presents: Great Moments in New York Yankees History - Stray-Rod part deux?

What was A-Rod doing on his off day on Monday? Was he getting treatment for his strained quad? Rushing down to Miami in his private jet to be with Cyn-Rod on her final days before giving birth to their second child? Nope, Stray-Rod was at it again, causing turmoil in the clubhouse by bedding the gorgeous Laura Posada.

editor's note: Is it just me, or does Laura Posada look a lot like that Eliot Spitzer hooker in this picture?

(Some information in this story may or may not have been provided by the NY Post and especially columnist George King III). We don't really want to pile on to this whole Joba/Hank debate, so it is a slow news day coming off of the first day off of the season. We post completely random Yankee Photoshops and stir up fake controversy like the NY Post. Big whup, wanna fight about it?
Read the full post, after the jump

The hits keep coming: A-Rod leaves 4/20 game with apparent leg injury

It seems that the Yankees will be bothered by yet another muscle tweak as Alex Rodriguez has left the game with the Orioles in the top of the 6th inning with an apparent muscle injury in his leg. No word yet on the nature of the injury.

UPDATE (4/20, 3:40 PM): A-Rod left the game with a strained right quad. Remember, Derek Jeter missed 6 games with a strained left quad. Not good. Losing A-Rod even for 6 games will cost the Yankees.

Video of the injury below:



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A-Rod leaves Abreu hanging - really, George King - REALLY?!

From the paper that brought you Stray-Rod comes A-Rod leaves Abreu hanging:

Damn - now I have to go all FJM on your asses.

Because every move he makes is under a huge spotlight,

Drafted version of this intro that was left on the cutting room floor:
We here at the NY Post hate Alex Rodriguez and want to point out to our dumb readers - who only educate themselves by reading the tabloids - every bit of A-Rod news that could potentially be construed by someone as even a little bit controversial. Reason for being cut? Run-on sentence.

Alex Rodriguez was asked last night why he doesn't shake hands, exchange fist knuckles or acknowledge Bobby Abreu when Abreu homers in front of him.

George King didn't happen to be the one asking that question, did he? Nahh, he wouldn't have. George King would never stir up A-Rod controversy.

As Abreu approaches the plate Rodriguez is off to the left side going through his preparation to hit, a program that includes a violent practice swing.

You hear that, kids? A-Rod is violent. We all know to steer clear of violence. Violence is bad.

"I have always done that because I don't like celebrating on the field,"

Jerk. All of the cool guys celebrate on the field. Didn't you see Manny raise his hands like he had just won a World Series when he hit that HR off of Moose last night? The fans in Boston love Manny. Celebration = fan love.

Rodriguez said before last night's 7-5 loss to the Red Sox in which he went 1-for-4 and 0-for-1 in the clutch to lower his batting average to .067 (1-for-15) with runners in scoring position.

WOAH - where did that come from? A-Rod is violent, doesn't celebrate with his teammates and now he sucks in the "clutch". How about the fact that he is tied for the lead on the Yankees in OPS+, leads the team in HRs and SLG % has a .980 fielding percentage at third base and he has played in every game this year. I'm sure he has done all of that in meaningless situations. Don't forget the fact that A-Rod is 10-29 with men on base so far this year, with a .345 .406 .586 line. Of course, these sample sizes are silly and the stats can be twisted any way we want this early in the season. Sorry to rain on your A-Rod bashing parade, Mr. King.

"When the hitter in front of me strikes out, I don't go over and pat him on the shoulder."

Of course you don't, A-Rod. You are violent, you don't celebrate with your teammates, and you are and always have been terrible in the clutch. Why would anyone expect you to show compassion for your mentally distraught teammate after he makes a heartbreaking out. I bet you're in the dugout putting on your purple lipstick while Abreu is kicking over the water cooler.

If that blurb in the NY Post today wasn't the most obvious, straight to the point A-Rod bashing veiled as news in the history of the NY tabloids, I don't know what is.

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Manny being Manny.... underground

Update: I'm sure Mussina would be more than pleased with the idea

As you must of heard unless you've been living under Chris Britton, a Red Sox fan tried burying a Sox jersey under the new Yankee stadium to curse it. We've got a better idea.


This way he can no longer kill us with hit after hit and HR after HR in critical situations.
Read the full post, after the jump

Oh no! My authentic road A-Rod jersey is bad luck

Also, I ruined Chien Ming Wang's no-hit bid last year by talking about it. Annnnd I make Bob Shepherd announce my name over the PA via recording even though every other player has the new guy while Shepherd is out sick. Ok, now I'm just listing off random stupid superstitions and this isn't getting us anywhere.

Basically, I broke out the brand new A-Rod authentic road jersey, and the Yankees played like crap. I'd like to think the two have no relation whatsoever, but Derek Jeter would probably disagree.

Anyway, there was a game being played and idiots in the crowd to ridicule, but neither were too exciting on this night.

Please excuse my potentially fuzzy recollection - I dulled the pain of the horrid pitching by Mike Mussina with multiple $13 Foster beers. By the way, here is a little message for Mike Mussina to chew on over his next peanut butter and jelly sandwich - as much as I am against Yankee fans booing their own players, I'm not yelling MOOOOOoooooose anymore - I am booing. Loudly.

Manny Ramirez has hit the ball a combined 1,000,000 feet off of you in the past week, but you continue to feed him batting practice fastballs right down the middle of the plate. Seriously, get a clue.

Big ups to the cute girl who walked up the wrong set of stairs in tier section 12 and looked around pathetically until I yelled at her that she was in the next section over. She thanked me and said she always does that, not even realizing how creepy it was that myself and my buddy (Fake Ian Kennedy!) knew where she was supposed to be sitting even though we didn't know her at all. Ignorance is bliss.

Here's a question that I am sure MANY Yankee fans in the upper deck have asked - what is up with the Beck's Beer vendor who seems to have turrets and just repeats "now batting for Boston, JACOBY ELSBURY". I have seen him do this before with other teams as well. He just picks a random player from the opposing team and announces in a booming, wannabe PA voice that he is batting - even if he isn't batting. I don't really understand what the point of it is. Yes, he is drawing attention to himself, thus theoretically increasing his chances of selling the product he is hawking. However, the annoyance factor more than outweighs that and even if Beck's was my favorite beer in the history of the world, I would opt for a Miller Lite just out of spite. He did switch it up when Moose was getting bombed. He announced "now batting ROSS OPENDORF". Ross Opendorf indeed.

When the game torture was over, getting out of the Stadium was just as fun as always. The inner corridors of the upper deck were more jam-packed than usual and while I don't have one homophobic bone in my body, lets just say I didn't enjoy the close proximity of the other dude's junk to my backside. We made the smart decision to go back out into the seating area and snake through the seats until we reached the ramps to mercifully end the evening.

Random notes:
- Tino Martinez pulled the lever, counting down to the final game at the Stadium. I'm going to predict at least 5 more lever pulls from Tino this year. They should lose the Great City Subway Race and replace it with a "who will pull the lever the most times" counter. Tino FTW!
- The new Stadium is coming along nicely:

- I didn't witness any fights and I'm glad. If you like fights, check out this image from fans fighting at the Yankees / Red Sox game on 4/16
- Nobody yelled "take ya hat off" before God Bless America. Not even Fake Ian Kennedy because he was buying beer. I did receive a text message.
- There is no truth to the rumor that I ran into this guy at the game:


(yes, I am trying to end as many posts as possible with this image)

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UPDATE - Reports from the Stadium: Fight sends fan toppling between sections

Update: 4/17/ 4:00 PM: This will about close the book on this whole ordeal. The story lost a bit of its luster when it turned out nobody did a face plant from the loge (thanks for the misinformation, Fake Ian Kennedy), but I feel obliged to post NYYSI reader Brad's first hand account :

I was seated two rows in front of the fight. I have photos. Will send later
tonight when I get home. The photos have an accurate time stamp on them and
will confirm the correct time of the incident.

I can't vouch for the accuracy of the story you have posted
here but it sounds reasonably correct. Everything happened very fast, with the
crowd yelling very loudly that the "guy in the red shirt" started it. I
don't think this was correct, but my back was turned to the fight at the
beginning. I only watched to make sure someone didn't fall on me and break
my neck.

As for the part about the obnoxious guy who was bragging about owning
"hundreds of seats," that's pretty much correct. He was offending everyone.
If a fist landed on his face, he deserved it

I probably won't glorify this idiocy by posting pictures, but who knows.

UPDATE: 4/17 10:30 AM: We just got this report from someone who was apparently in that section. Pretty hilarious description of the ordeal, but from what I gather from this description, nobody was thrown between decks:

I was in Main Reserved Section 22, 4 seats away from the fight. All
participants were in this section. Dumb guy (early 30's) who owns many
of the section tickets told a loud, obnoxious drunk guy (late 20's) to
shut up. Over the course of a few innings, drunk guy gets drunker and
more antagonistic toward the dumb guy. Drunk guy's huge (hippo-like
300lb), drunk, ex-Marine father chucks a sealed plastic beer bottle at
the dumb guy and follows it over to start a fight. Fists fly. Hippo
slams dumb guy into the back wall of the section. Dumb guy has a lower
center of gravity and sends hippo dad over a 8 ft. high wall/rail that
separates main reserved from seats below. Drunk dude goes over and
begins attacking dumb guy. Drunk dude gets dumped over the rail too,
but comes back to beat on dumb guy some more before going over the rail
for a second time. Cops and security came and hauled everyone away.

Earlier erroneous report:
NYYSI can NOT confirm these reports, but people at the game are saying that a fight broke out between a Red Sox fan and a Yankee fan during the 6th inning and a fan went toppling from the Loge Level down onto the Field Level.

Once again, we CAN NOT confirm this report. We received reports from those in attendance, but not from anyone in the precise vicinity of the scene.

The best we can do is provide the video from YES at the supposed time of the incident:



Listen closely to the crowd reaction after the 2-0 pitch. That is the time that this incident supposedly occured.

We will have to see if the reports can be confirmed by the papers in the morning. This is especially scary on the heels of this story about a fan at Shea falling to his death.

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NYYSI Saves you money: Yankees vs. Red Sox 4/17 for face value

A lot of people don't know this trick, but the Yankees often release more tickets to sold out games in the days leading up to the game date.

I was just able to score tickets to tomorrow (Thursday April 17th) night's game against the Red Sox. I scored tickets in Tier Reserved Section 12 because they are cheap, but I think there are more expensive tickets as well.

Be sure to check ticketmaster.com for available tickets.

If you get there and tickets are sold out, don't forget that Stubhub still has the $10 off using fan codes. Check the post here for more info.

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The #21 debate, irrational Yankee fans, and how I became an elitist

In the news today comes word that LaTroy Hawkins has bowed to the fans' wishes and will stop honoring Roberto Clemente and switch to #22. Of course, this only became an issue when fans began to boo Hawkins for wearing "Paul O'Neill's" #21.

What seems to be getting buried in this story is that Hawkins has stopped wearing the number due to the urging of Yankee veteran leaders such as Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter.

"I figure if it's important enough for Jeter and Mariano and some other veterans to ask me about it, it's not worth it to keep wearing the number," Hawkins said.

My first reaction to reading this quote was anger at the supposed veteran leaders on the team. I have long been against the late 90's Yankee nostalgia of the fans (as you have read many times on this blog), and now it appears that our heroes who are left over from those teams are displaying the same irrational nostalgic feelings.

Then I thought a little more and realized that Mo and Jete very well could have told LaTroy:

"LaTroy, you are an awesome dude and don't deserve to be booed. These fans in NY are mostly idiots. Just switch your number, strike out Manny tomorrow night in a big spot, and the fans will love you forever - they are that fickle and stupid".

Then I came to the striking realization that I have somehow become an elitist Yankee fan. I really never wanted this to happen, but I am afraid it has. Attending so many games as a season ticket holder and witnessing the booing of A-Rod, the ridiculous things people say at the games and now the booing of LaTroy Hawkins have done the trick. I guess a lot of this can be attributed to maturing as an adult and reading more sophisticated baseball materials than the typical beat writer/columnist drivel.

I'm not going to apologize for the way I am. Instead, I encourage all of the Yankee fans reading this blog to drop your inky newspaper and read some objective baseball materials every now and again. For starters, if you are an internet guy, check out The Hardball Times and Baseball Prospectus and branch out from there. If you like to have a book in your hands, check out Bill James' Handbook or Baseball Prospectus (the book version). Just stop basing every baseball feeling you have on nostalgia and what you read by some idiot columnist who cans "controversial" articles designed to rile you up.

Oh yea, one last thing - "Take ya hat off". (edit: just realized this is an inside joke and I have never blogged about it. If you want to know what I am talking about, go to a Yankee game and listen to the crowd right before the recorded version of "God Bless America" starts playing. Classic.



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CAN find a betta man?

Alberto Gonzalez is hitting well and showing some slick fielding while Wilson Betemit is put on the DL with a suspiciously convenient case of pink eye. Could we have found a better option at the utility infielder position? Read the full post, after the jump

NYYSI presents: Great Moments in New York Yankees History

Robinson Cano is a little too excited to see friend Chien Ming Wang in a short skirt Read the full post, after the jump

Tough start for young starters

Read the full post, after the jump

Found on the interwebs: New Yankee Stadium 2009 Seating Chart

Take it with a grain of salt, but this supposed 2009 New Yankee Stadium seating chart is floating around the web.


(click to enlarge)

Based on the username of the person who posted that on baseball-fever (WBMason), my educated guess is that the Yankees provided the new seating chart to advertisers in the current Yankee Stadium so they can decide if/where they want to advertise in the new stadium.

So, what did we learn from that leaked seating chart?
1) Seating in Yankee stadium just got WAY more confusing (21 different levels of seating?!)
2) Suites are plentiful (horray for rich people filling up the seats!)

Of course, I will scan up ALL of the official season ticket holder new Yankee Stadium documentation as soon as I receive the 2009 Yankee Stadium Relocation Guide. Now at least I know that Tier Reserved MVP section 1 in Yankee Stadium 2008 = Grandstand 420B in the new Yankee Stadium 2009. Fingers are crossed for a fair relocation!

H/T to Greg over at Sliding Into Home for his post which alerted me to this and of course big ups to WBMason over at baseball-fever.com if this is in fact real.

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Abreu's fear of walls costs Wang a complete game shutout and maybe a no-hitter

Be afraid Bobby, be very afraid Read the full post, after the jump

We know what our readers want!

We at NYYSI have spent countless time writing posts about ticket deals, stadium insider info, straight baseball analysis, and amusing photoshops. Yet it is a post about David Cone saying that Ian Kennedy got "jerked off" in the bullpen that sets our daily hit record so far at 7,055 hits.

By the way, Bob Klapisch wrote a nice article about Cone's return to the broadcast booth and managed NOT to mention IPK getting a Coney in the bullpen. We're glad about this article, because it means that although the whole interwebs was abuzz about his gaffe, the mainstream media was either oblivious, deemed itself too highbrow or simply didn't care about it. That means Cone (who actually has some interesting insights) won't be fired or suspended anytime soon. Good news. Read the full post, after the jump

UPDATE: Alan Horne injured in AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre game PARTIAL tear of the biceps

UPDATE: (4/11 - 6:00 PM) - Update on Alan's injury relatively good news, but not great news:

I have talked with Alan after the pictures and tests have been done. As far as what could have been, the news is good. The doctors told Alan that he has a biceps strain--or partical tear. Evidently they relate those two terms as one in the same. It is not a complete tear and that's good. He has been told he will go to Tampa for the rehab, however at this point, the length of the rehab is not known. The obvious assumption there is it will depend on how long it takes the injuried area to settle down to the point it can be worked. I think right now he is shown on the 7-day DL. As more information becomes available I will try to keep you posted.

thanks again to Mr. Horne for the info! Also, way more detailed information from Chad Jennings

Alan Horne pitched for SWB tonight and here was his line:

2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

That is the good news.

Horne was removed after 2 innings with some sort of arm injury. According to a source close to Alan:

I've talked with Alan, and I'll tell you what I know without speculation. Until tomorrow when X-Rays and MRIs are taken, nothing is known for sure. The educated guess by the trainer staff @ Scranton is: 1) best case scenerio--strained biceps, 2) worse case scenerio--torn biceps. The what happens next will just have to wait on information from the results of tomorrow's tests. Those results will probably not be made available until sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Even more details, with quotes from Chad Jennings' blog

So, lets all keep our fingers crossed. The Eastern League pitcher of the year in 2007 has a pretty good future ahead of him and we don't need a debilitating injury veering Alan off of his course to the show.


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Good news Yankee Fans - Ian Kennedy got jerked off in the bullpen

Get your mind out of the gutter, people. I haven't turned this blog NC-17 on you. The line in the title of the post is taken verbatim (well, almost verbatim) from David Cone who made his proud return to the broadcast booth on YES with the following amazing moment in an otherwise DEPRESSING game:




Yes folks, he said that Ian Kennedy got jerked off. I can't believe it, but he said it. Kudos to Ken "look out" Singleton for taking it all in stride and just calling the action as he saw it. Perhaps Coney was remembering some of the good times he used to have in the bullpen when he was on the Mets early in his career. He got jerked around Coney, jerked around would have been more acceptable there. Sadly, YES may not be as forgiving of that misstep as we are here at NYYSI.

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums!

Read the full post, after the jump

Jorge to not go on the DL with shoulder injury after all

I wonder what his secret was? Read the full post, after the jump

Jeter is hurt - who fills in at short?

This isn't usually the type of topic that I blog about, I save that for Feinsand and the other beat bloggers out there. However, this article by John Harper in the NY Daily News today, really grinds my gears. Especially this part:

As protective as Jeter is of his status as the Yankee shortstop, you know that would change in a hurry if A-Rod were asked to move back to his old position. Truly it wouldn't make sense unless Jeter were out for the season, so Girardi should do both of them a favor today and make it clear it's not something the Yankees are talking about internally.

Nicely canned article, Mr. Harper. When did you write the bulk of this? 2004? Harper gave a bunch of reasons except for the REAL reason not to play A-Rod at short:

Because he hasn't played or practiced there in 4 years.

It has nothing to do with protecting Jeter's stature. If you want to protect your position, you get up and play every day, just like Jeter always has done. It is so lame and makes Jeter look so bad that the newspapers even suggest that is the reason the Yankees aren't going to play A-Rod at short. Plus, when has Derek Jeter ever openly been protective of his status as the Yankee shortstop? Where did Harper pull that from?

Harper goes on to say that Scranton Wilkes-Barre SS Alberto Gonzalez is the best option if Jeter is out for more than a couple of days.

If Jeter winds up needing a couple of weeks, they should just call up Gonzalez and let him play short. From the glimpses of seeing him in spring training, the kid looks like a wizard with the glove, and that's what the Yankees would need.

Yes, Mr Harper, I agree - if Jeter goes on the DL, Alberto Gonzalez ABSOLUTELY makes the most sense. The tough decision that Joe Girardi has to make is if Jeter is out for 7-10 days, but does not go on the DL. This leaves the Yankees with their current 25 man roster (minus Jeter for those 10 days), unless they send someone else to the minors or DFA someone else to make room for Gonzalez (unlikely).

Now here is why A-Rod SHOULD fill in at short if the scenario described above plays out:

- Of the guys on the roster, he is probably the most adept at playing short.
- As discussed above, the guy who would be the best choice is in the minors and a roster move would have to be made - If Jeter isn't going on the DL, what roster move would they make? They aren't going to send Betemit to the minors or DFA Ensberg.
- If they don't make a roster move and Jeter merely misses a few games, both Betemit and Ensberg (both third baseman until this year) can fill in for A-Rod while he is playing short.
- Shelley or Giambi (health permitting) can play 1B while Betemit/Ensberg are filling in at 3B

So, I have made my case for A-Rod at short, as long as Jeter does NOT go on the DL. Jeter to the DL means the obvious move of Alberto Gonzalez batting 9th and playing SS - you didn't really reinvent the wheel there, John Harper.

What do I believe will happen? I think Jeter won't be DL'ed, but the Yankees will play Betemit at short until he gets back. We have seen how LaTroy Hawkins is being treated for wearing #21. Imagine the fan reaction To A-Rod at short, especially if he makes an error? It won't be pretty. Fan reaction should NEVER be the reason for making a baseball decision, but NY is a whole different beast.

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

Abreu off to a hot start

It must be the candy Read the full post, after the jump

Bored? Why not play some NY vs. Boston fantasy baseball

I was perusing the web, and came across rotohog.com, one of the many fantasy baseball sites out there.



Apparently, they are running a NY vs. Boston fantasy league and it seems like fun and something that may set it apart from your typical fantasy baseball site. Check it out here:

http://rivalry.rotohog.com/rivalry

I have never done this before, but I figured I would give it a whirl in some free time. Let me know in the comments what you guys think.

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

The YES Network believes all Asians are the same

Hideki Matsui hits a HR, YES Network cameras show Taiwanese fans going crazy. All Asians are the same, right?




Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

WE DEMAND CHANGE!

With all of the message boards going nuts wanting to get rid of Hawkins, Farnsworth, Damon and Kennedy after 4 games (not to mention grumblings about Cano [1-15] and Jeter [2 GIDPs in 4 games], we here at NYYSI thought we would share our own absolutely irrational ideas for how to fix this obviously broken team.

Release Damon, Hawkins, Farnsworth. Send Cano and Kennedy to the minors. They all suck. Bench Jeter and move him to the utility role.

New team:

LF - Austin Jackson (call him up, he's ready - homegrown Yankees forever!)
RF - Abreu (he's the only good one in 4 games, so he stays)
SS - A-Rod (he is on the hot seat though, better shape it up too many "unclutch" K's )
1B - Shelley Duncan (he'll split time here with Jeter)
3B - Betemit (he finally gets his chance)
DH Ensberg
CF - Melky (Home opener - 'nuff said)
C- Jose Molina (Jorge is cooked - just a little switcharoo here)
2B - Alberto Gonzalez (SS, 2B - whats the difference?)

SP - Hughes, Pettitte, sign David Wells, convince David Cone to un-retire, make an unlikely trade with the Mets for El Duque
BP - Joba, Mo, Albaladejo, Ohlendorf, Traber, Bruney sign Jeff Nelson, Ramiro Mendoza, trade for Mike Stanton.

New manager: Tony Pena - Fire Girardi. Did you ever see Joe Torre getting sick and missing games? No, he just slept it off on the bench. Lets get Tony Pena at the helm. One rule for Tony: he must always wear that new base coach helmet, even if he is in the dugout as the manager - he looks awesome in it.

That is NYYSI's proposal for a new Yankee team. Take it or leave it people. So what if there are 14 pitchers and Alberto Gonzalez is starting over Derek Jeter. The Yankees are 2-2 and just got blown out by the rival Rays. WE DEMAND CHANGE!

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

UPDATE: There may be baseball in the Bronx tonight after all!

UPDATE (4/4 - 4:40 PM) - It appears that the more organized batch of rain that was supposed to move in this evening has dissipated. What we are left with is spotty showers/ drizzle activity. This sort of rain will not cancel the game, so expect the game to be played. What you shouldn't expect is to enjoy the experience as it is sure to be damp and fairly cool.

Everyone is going to get their hopes up with a 2-3 hour break in the steady rain that is about to occur, but the rain will be back tonight, and with a vengeance. The rain will even linger throughout the day tomorrow (Saturday) and may threaten that game as well.

rainfall amounts from a series of waves riding along a frontal
boundary across the region will range between a half and one inch of
rain through Saturday night. There may be a few isolated locations
that receive just over an inch. Due to the long duration of this
rainfall we are not expecting any river or stream flooding. We could
however see some ponding of water on roadways in the usual poor
drainage and low lying areas. Otherwise...dry weather returns Sunday
with just slight chances for Monday.

This time of year features more rained out games than any other time of the year and it is frustrating for everyone. It isn't only a headache for the fans who are stuck in limbo, but I would assume the players as well. These will go down in the books as "off days" but they have to follow their pre-game routine as if the game is going to be played. Apparently retractable roof stadiums aren't worth it when factoring in the average number of rained out games per season, but the month of April really makes you long for one.

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

How appropriate - a look "inside" the new Yankee Stadium

You get it? Because this site is called NYY Stadium Insider? Never mind.

The photo above is taken from inside of the new Yankee Stadium and was sent out by the New York Yankees. If I had to guess, it appears that Big Stein is standing around where home plate would be. The photo offers a good look at how the seats are arranged, height of the decks, etc. Its going to be really exciting when they start laying the turf for the field!


Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

13 year old Alexa Rodriguez attacked by Boston hawk at Fenway Park

A 13-year-old girl touring Fenway Park on a school trip was attacked by a resident red-tailed hawk that drew blood from her scalp Thursday.

She wasn't seriously hurt, but some observers saw an omen for a certain New York Yankees slugger in the attack at the home of the Boston Red Sox. The girl's name is Alexa Rodriguez.

Vince Jennetta, a teacher who chaperoned her class trip from Memorial Boulevard Middle School in Bristol, Conn., told The Boston Globe that Alexa is "a little shaken, but OK."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3328114

(editors note: if you republish this image on the web, please cite NYYStadiumInsider.com)

Alex(a) will have his/her revenge for A-Roders everywhere!

Read the full post, after the jump

The first booing of A-Rod in 2008

It was a memorable night in the Bronx. Not because the Yankees made a nice comeback, but because A-Rod faced his first boos of the season after striking out for the 2nd time in the 8th inning.

This booing came right on the heels of the Yankee fans in attendance serenading Rodriguez with MVP chants as he came up to the plate. You stay classy, Yankee fans.

UPDATE (10:19 PM): Check out the video. Listen closely as he is walking back to the dugout. Nuts.




UPDATE (7:50 AM): I've been informed that the fans may or may not have been booing the umpire for his strike call. Yea, the Yankee fans have really earned the benefit of the doubt with their treatment of A-Rod the past few years. I will admit this was really no big deal, and people at the game reported a smattering of boos. However, one of the joys of blogging is getting my opinion out there, for better or for worse.
Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

Tickets to the game tomorrow night? You might want to make other plans

The weather forecast is pretty terrible for Friday evening against the rival Rays. Yea, thats right, they're a rival now. Any time the benches clear, teams become rivals.

Anyway, I can't provide any good news for those of you with tickets for tomorrow night's game:

there is the potential for an inch to an inch and a half from
coastal Connecticut and just north and NYC and points south...with
lower amounts to the north and west...for tonight into Saturday
night. Most of the rain will likely fall late tonight into Friday
morning...and this could cause ponding in the usual poor drainage
and low lying areas.

The good news is, the heaviest rain is going to be overnight tonight into Friday morning. The bad news is that the rain is going to linger into Saturday and the Yankees will most likely let the early day rain affect their postponement decision.

If I were a betting man, I'd say that tomorrow night's game will be rained out. Be sure to check the radar on the right side of the page tomorrow evening, as I will be traveling and won't be able to provide up to the minute updates.
Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

A bit of NYYSI advice - don't steal the bunting

The Yankees just sent out this press release. I would assume they are setting the precedent for the idiots who plan on ripping out their seat as a memento at some point this season.

C'mon guys - can't you just be happy with the souvenir cup that comes with your $7 soda? That is more than a fair price. Oh wait...

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

Game #1 experience - I'm still waiting in line for the bathroom

Absurd backup to enter the Stadium? Check.
$10 beers? Check (Ok, $9.50 - big difference).
15 minutes lines for the bathrooms? Check.
Ignorant "fans" making absurd statements? Check.

From the above statements, one would assume that the home opener was a real drag and that I hate the current Yankee Stadium experience. Au contraire! Fine - I'll admit that I would take great joy in having the opportunity to push the detonate button when imploding the current stadium. However, even a skeptic like myself has to admit there is some sort of - lets say - mystique and aura that surrounds attending a game at the current Stadium - even with all of the flaws.

On to the game - I scored a single face value ticket in the loge level from Yankees.com on the day of the game. A word of advice for other sold out Yankee games - check out the official ticketmaster page on the day of the game. A lot of the time more tickets are released for whatever reason. I was also able to score a single ticket for just about face value for a buddy of mine so I didn't have to go to the game alone.

The normal entrance to the Stadium that I use is the entrance in left field, closest to the Subway. Unfortunately, this is also the entrance to the Stadium that is directly across from the new Stadium construction site. Word to the wise - if you are going to a game at the Stadium this year, use a different entrance. Apparently, everyone and their mother decided to enter there because they wanted to gawk at the new Stadium. After a couple of minutes of standing in line further away from the entrance than ever before, we decided to circle around the Stadium and try to make it in for the first pitch.

Turns out we just missed the first pitch, but we still saw most of the top half of the first. I have to admit that the Stadium crowd was at its best from the beginning. Don't worry, I'm not going to ramble on and on with an inning by inning recap, but here are the highlights:

- Beers are up to $9.50 for a pint sized cup. I considered it a bargain when they weren't $10. The smallest hot dog ever is $5.25. I can't imagine what the prices are going to be in the new Stadium.

- New gimmicks between innings this year:
1) Guess the baby bomber - a picture of a Yankee as a child is put up on the big screen in center and the fans have to guess who it is based on three clues. Last night's child picture was the big G and it was pretty obvious from the second it was put up.
2) Someone pulls a lever and the countdown of remaining games at the current Yankee Stadium ticks down a game (see the picture to the right). This takes place after the 5th inning when the game becomes official. Last night they propped up a probably dead George Steinbrenner to pull the lever. It was a great moment. I think it would be cool if they got a different celebrity to do that every game this season. Kind of like the different celebrity singing "Take me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley Field during the 7th inning stretch.

- When Joba was pitching in the top of the 8th, there was some idiot behind me spewing some of the most nonsensical statements I had ever heard. Among the idiocy was "Joba's fastball isn't sh!t", "he can't get guys out with his fastball", "he's got nothing on Mo". After the strikeout of Rios "see, his slider is his only good pitch". After blowing Thomas away on a fastball? Silence. The guy had the thickest low-class New York accent I have ever heard and for that entire inning I was ashamed to be associated as a Yankee fan with that guy. Unfortunately that guy is what Mets fans, Red Sox fans and other Yankee haters around the country will reference when citing reasons for their Yankee hate. I'll admit there are WAY more of those types of Yankee fan than I would like, but every fan base has them. The Boston equivalent is the drunk dude with the thick Boston accent yelling "hey Jetah, you're gay".

- The bathroom lines were worse than ever. I broke major men's bathroom etiquette in the 8th inning after Damon's triple. I went to one of the bathrooms with an enter and an exit door and sneaked into the exit door. From there, I cut the massive line, entered a stall, did my business and was back in time to see Giambi end the threat.

So there you have it, that is the NYYSI look at the final home opener in the current Yankee Stadium. Yankees win. THEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Yankeeeeeeeeees wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin.


Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

Great start, my eyes dart.

What a PERFECT opening day. My roommate and I made home run predictions at lunch yesterday. He predicted 3 dingers, with the first being by A Rod. You gotta go with A Rod for first homer of the year, right? Apparently not!

The youngster Melky stole that one! And stole the show for that matter with his far ranging, highlight reel catches in the fourth inning. Wang was great, out-dueling the Jays ace. And the reigning MVP, A-Rod, copped the first of many RBI's he'll accumulate this season. And Joba-Mo did their thing!

I said my eyes dart... Where do they dart? Well, straight past tonight's game. To tomorrow nights game, as Phil Hughes will make his 2008 debut. I know, Moose will be just as important, if not more so, to this seasons success than Hughes. But I don't care. I can't NOT look ahead. He is the future.

I'd bet there are a bunch of Yankees fans who feel the same way!

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

The Melkman delivers on a classic opening day

A replacement level centerfield defender indeed, Bill James

http://www.billjamesonline.net/fieldingbible Read the full post, after the jump

Will there be baseball tonight?

Well, here we go again.

The Yankees made the odd decision to postpone the season opener until tonight at 7:05 and because of that missed out on a day of mostly dry conditions. Of course, as 7:05 approaches, the skies are ready to open once again. Here is the situation:


(click for full-size as of 5:10 PM)

You will notice that the heavy, convective activity is moving south of the Bronx or simply dissipating all together. That is good news if you want to see some baseball tonight.

There is, however, scattered light rain which shows up much better on the weather.com radar

Anyway, I have no doubt that there will be baseball in the Bronx tonight. I can't totally rule out a delay at the onset, but they will play the game.

I managed to wrangle myself a ticket to the game tonight, so I hope to have my first post-game Yankee Stadium rant of the year up on the blog tomorrow morning. If you are at home, be sure to check out our Yankee message board and take part in our inaugural game thread.


Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump