Here’s the final out from the stands,
Although it seems like the Yankees win too many World Series titles the team actually hadn’t won in all since their string of 3 consecutive ending in 2000. 9 years is a long time for a team as stacked as the Yanks have been the last few years. I suppose its nice that ARod finally won a World Series… but I still think the guy is a douchebag! Read more about the victory from TSN.ca:
The New York Yankees bolted from the dugout even before the last grounder was scooped up. After waiting nine years for championship No. 27, no one would dare hold them back.
“It feels better than I remember it, man,” captain Derek Jeter said. “It’s been a long time.”
Hideki Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBIs, Andy Pettitte won on short rest and New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 on Wednesday night, finally seizing that elusive title — the most in all of sports.
Nearly a decade after their dynasty ended on a blooper in the desert, the Yankees are baseball’s best again.
Matsui, the Series MVP, powered a quick rout of old foe Pedro Martinez. And when Mariano Rivera got the final out, it was ecstasy in the Bronx for George Steinbrenner’s go-for-broke bunch.
What a way for Alex Rodriguez and Co. to christen their US$1.5-billion ballpark: One season, one World Series crown — the team’s first since winning three straight from 1998-2000.
“The Yankees won. The world is right again,” team president Randy Levine said.
The season certainly ended a lot better than it started — with a steroids scandal involving A-Rod, followed by hip surgery that kept him out until May.
“My teammates, coaches and the organization stood by me and now we stand here as world champions,” said Rodriguez, who admitted using steroids from 2001-03 while with Texas. “We’re going to enjoy it, and we’re going to party!”
For Chase Utley and the Phillies, it was a frustrating end to another scintillating season. Philadelphia fell two wins short of becoming the first NL team to repeat as World Series champions since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds.
Utley tied Reggie Jackson’s record with five home runs in a Series. But Ryan Howard’s sixth-inning shot came too late to wipe away an untimely slump that included 13 strikeouts, also a Series mark.
Meanwhile, Phillies pitchers rarely managed to slow Matsui and the Yankees’ machine.
“I told them that I loved the way they played. We’re fighters and never quit,” Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. “We want to keep what we got as far as attitude and chemistry.”
For second-year manager Joe Girardi, a three-time Yankees champion as a player, it was the fulfilment of a mission. When he succeeded Joe Torre in October 2007, Girardi chose uniform No. 27, putting his quest on his back for all to see. His tenure didn’t start out so well, with New York missing the playoffs in its final season at old Yankee Stadium following 13 consecutive appearances.
“To be able to deliver this to the Boss, the stadium that he created and the atmosphere he has created around here is very gratifying for all of us,” Girardi said.
In a fitting coincidence, this championship came eight years to the day that the Yankees lost Game 7 of the 2001 World Series in Arizona on Luis Gonzalez’s broken-bat single off Rivera.
Steinbrenner spent billions trying to win another Series. At long last, his team did.
Fittingly, it was dedicated to the 79-year-old owner, who has been in declining health and didn’t make the trip from his home in Tampa, Fla.
Still, his presence was felt.
“Boss, this is for you,” the giant video screen in centre field flashed during post-game ceremonies while his son, Hal, the team’s managing general partner, accepted the championship trophy.
For the Four Amigos, it was ring No. 5.
Jorge Posada, Jeter, Pettitte and Rivera came up together through the minors and were cornerstones for those four titles in five years starting in 1996.
There’s a reason why these guys are the pros.
Can you say backfire? From FoxSports.com:
NEW YORK (AP) - At new Yankee Stadium, the best seats in the park have turned out to be the emptiest.
The most expensive spots in America’s costliest ballpark have become an embarrassment packing a financial sting to the proud New York Yankees, as the Legends Suite section in the infield has been filled only once in the six games since the $1.5 billion stadium opened last week.
On most days, the 1,895 seats that cost $500-$2,500 as part of season tickets and go up to $2,625 for individual games haven’t been close to full. And as TV cameras pick up the patchy attendance with every pitch, it serves as a little tweak to America’s richest baseball team.
“We’re done talking about seats,” Yankees president Randy Levine said on Wednesday. “We’re not talking about seats.”
But fans sure notice.
“I remember watching and you couldn’t find an empty seat at Yankee Stadium. And now right behind home plate there’s 15 to 20,” said Aaron Feldstein, who scored a free ticket from a friend for Wednesday’s game behind home plate - an area that costs $325 as part of season tickets.
The Legend Suite section was about 80 percent empty, and the upper decks - which have been mostly full - were a quarter empty for the game against the Oakland Athletics on a showery, cold afternoon.
Yet another sign of how the best seats have been overpriced is their resale level.
Legends Suite seats in section 27B, row 2, down the left-field line that originally sold for $500 were available for $225 early Wednesday on the online ticket broker StubHub.com. Tickets in section 23, row 7, behind the visitors’ dugout could be had for $263, down from their $850 original price.
“Yeah, we understand it’s not full. We actually understand why it’s not,” left fielder Johnny Damon said. “It’s tough for, you know, business owners to justify those seats. It’s either have those seats or lay off people from work, and I think that during this tough time, people are going to want to put it back into their companies and put it back into people instead of spending that type of money for seats.”
A stadium built in boom times - with top-end seats that give fans access to private clubs and an upscale duplex buffet from white-toqued chefs at carving stations - the Yankees’ front office doesn’t seem to have counted on the recession dampening enthusiasm for the storied franchise.
The team refuses to talk about the financial impact of the empty seats, but if every spot in the Legends Suite were sold, the club would gross $1.63 million per game, according to AP’s calculation.
“I think if anybody in any business had known where this economy was going to go, they would have done things differently,” Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said on April 2.
“Look, there’s no doubt small amounts of our tickets might be overpriced. You know, we’re continuing to look into that. But the bottom line is, the vast majority of them, it seems like they’re right on because we’ve sold 35,000 full season equivalents, and a lot of the tickets have, you know, sold quite well.”
So what do the Yankees do until the economy rebounds? Drop prices now and anger fans who paid (very) top dollar? Or wait, endure the jokes, and wonder what the effect on the actual game is?
All those empty cushioned seats with teak armrests translate to less crowd noise, making Yankee Stadium a less-intimidating place to play.
Oakland’s Jason Giambi, who spent seven seasons with the Yankees, said the new stadium was “kind of bigger and more spread out than the other one.”
In the old ballpark, it felt as if the fans “were on top of you,” he said. “That made old Yankee Stadium so great.”
This is pretty cool. The brand new 1.5 billion dollar Yankee stadium is set to host its first MLB game on Thursday and the entire buiding has been modeled on the original Yankee stadium. A main goal of the designers and engineers was to ensure that the history and memories of that old and storied building remained, and it looks like they’ve done just that. Check out this clip from the AP.org:
From CNN.com:
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was among three people killed in a crash in Fullerton, California, early Thursday, according to the team and a hospital spokesman.
Adenhart, 22, from Silver Spring, Maryland, died at UC Irvine Medical Center, according to spokesman John Murray.
“The Angels family has suffered a tremendous loss today,” Tony Reagins, the team’s general manager, said in a written statement. “We are deeply saddened and shocked by this tragic loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Nick’s family, friends, loved ones and fans.”
One person was arrested in connection with the three-vehicle accident that occurred about 12:23 a.m. Thursday in Fullerton, south of Los Angeles. Witnesses say a red minivan ran a red light and struck two vehicles at a Fullerton intersection, police Lt. Craig Brower told CNN.
One of the vehicles, a gray Mitsubishi, slammed into a power pole, Brower said. Two of its passengers were dead at the scene, he said. The other two were transported to UC Irvine Medical Center.
Murray said Adenhart underwent surgery and died at the hospital, but did not know if he died during or after the procedure. Brower said the remaining passenger was in critical condition.
The Angels said the two dead at the scene included the female driver of the Mitsubishi and another male. No other members of the Angels organization were involved, the team said.
A passenger in the minivan was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, Brower said. The third vehicle sustained minor damage, and its driver was unhurt, he said. Police did not identify any of the dead.
The minivan’s driver fled the scene and was later arrested, Brower said. Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of Riverside will face charges of manslaughter, felony driving under the influence and hit-and-run, he said.
Footage from the scene showed the minivan with a smashed front end and the Mitsubishi, which was heavily damaged. Debris littered the intersection where the crash took place, and it was cordoned off with yellow police tape.
Adenhart is survived by his father, Jim, and mother, Janet, the Angels’ statement said.
“Nick’s family expresses sincere gratitude for all the help the Angels have provided,” the family said in a statement released by the team.
“He lived his dream and was blessed to be part of an organization comprised of such warm, caring and compassionate people. The Angels were his extended family. Thanks to all of Nick’s loyal supporters and fans throughout his career. He will always be in everyone’s hearts forever.”
Funeral and memorial arrangements were pending, the team said.
Adenhart pitched in a game against the Oakland A’s Wednesday night in Anaheim, California, making what was characterized as a “brilliant effort” despite the Angels’ 6-4 loss, according to Major League Baseball’s Web site, MLB.com.
In his fourth major league start, Adenhart pitched a scoreless six innings, allowing seven hits, three walks and five strikeouts.
“I thought he pitched a terrific game,” manager Mike Scioscia told MLB.com after the game and before the crash took place. “He gave us a chance to win. He has better tools out there now. He pitched ahead a lot and was able to get back in counts and put guys away.”
“It felt good to work out of some jams early,” Adenhart told MLB.com. “My curveball was really working for me, and then my change came on later when I felt I needed it.”
MLBPA Executive Director Donald Fehr issued the following statement:
“We were shaken and deeply saddened when we learned about the terrible accident that claimed the lives of Nick Adenhart and others. Just hours before the accident, Nick demonstrated his passion for baseball and his prospects for a very bright future when he pitched six scoreless innings for the Angels. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Nick’s family, his teammates, the Angels organization and his many friends and fans; it is very painful to lose a son, a teammate and a friend under these circumstances, and we also extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the other victims of the crash.”
The Angels drafted Adenhart in the 14th round of the June 2004 draft, according to the team statement. He was in his fifth professional season and made the Angels Opening Day Roster for the first time.
“Adenhart earned his spot in the Angels rotation via a spring training in which he recorded a 3-0 record and a 3.12 ERA over the course of six starts,” the team statement said. “During that span, he struck out 18 while allowing only five base on balls.”
Adenhart made his major league debut May 1, 2008, against Oakland, the team said. At the time, he was the youngest active-roster pitcher in the majors.
Adenhart was a 2004 graduate of Williamsport High School in Williamsport, Maryland. His baseball coach there, Rod Steiner, told CNN affiliate WHAG, “After watching last night, as well as he pitched … things seemed to be going so smooth. This is the last thing that you ever imagine.”
He remembered Adenhart as a hard worker who knew he wanted to be a major-league pitcher while still in high school, and worked hard to achieve that goal, despite a setback when he had to undergo shoulder surgery.
He said area residents who didn’t even know Adenhart followed his career and cheered him on. “He touched a lot of lives.”
– CNN’s Rosalina Nieves and Irving Last contributed to this report.
from TSN.ca:
With a new Yankee Stadium on the way, the Yankees just keep on spending to put the best possible team on the field.
According to a report on ESPN.com, the New York Yankees have signed coveted free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira to an eight-year contract worth $180-million.
Teixeira, 28, had 33 home runs, 121 RBI and a .308 batting average with the Angels in 2008. In six major league seasons, with the Rangers, Braves and Angels, Teixeira has slugged 203 homers and 676 RBI while batting .290.
Reports had the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals both as finalists, after the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Baltimore Orioles had bowed out, in the Teixeira sweepstakes before the Yankees, apparently, swooped in at the last minute.
“We would have loved to have had the player, who appealled to us because of the special circumstances of where he’s from and where we are. We diverted from our plan to try to get him,” Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told the Associated Press. “But at the end of the day, it was just too much to pay for one player.
“It would handicap our ability to go forward.”
If this deal is completed, the Yankees will have the four highest-paid players in baseball, with Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and C.C. Sabathia joined by Teixeira.
Liquor is a business that never goes out of style! From the NYDailyNews.com:
A Long Island liquor mogul is offering to buy the Mets from Fred Wilpon, one of the victims in Bernie Madoff’s $50 billion Ponzi scheme.
Martin Silver, owner of Syosset-based Star Industries, told the Daily News he’s putting together a team of partners to make Wilpon an offer for the major league franchise.
“As a life-long Mets fan and a season ticket holder for over 25 years, I would not like to see the Mets organization fall into the wrong hands,” Silver wrote in a letter to Wilpon requesting a meeting to air his offer.
Silver, part owner of a minor league baseball team in Wilmington, Del., said he has spoken to potential investors and estimated he could put together an offer of $600 million to $700 million for the team. Forbes magazine has put the value of the Mets at $824 million.
“If Mr. Wilpon is in so much trouble. … It’s like real estate, it comes down in value,” said Silver, who in June sent Wilpon five whole chickens to express his displeasure over the firing of manager Willie Randolph.
Wilpon’s Sterling Equities reportedly lost some $500 million it had invested with Madoff’s company. Wilpon, who bought the Mets in 1980, has told Major League Baseball officials his losses won’t affect the team’s operations.
Silver, whose company’s flagship spirit is the popular Georgi Vodka, said that while the economy has tumbled, his liquor business is booming.
From ESPN.com:
SEATTLE — Don Wakamatsu became the first Asian-American manager in major league baseball history when he was hired Wednesday by the Seattle Mariners.
The 14th manager in Mariners history, Wakamatsu was bench coach for the Oakland Athletics last season. Before that he spent five years with the Texas Rangers.
“When I started this process, there were some key attributes we were looking for,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement. “We wanted energy, a passion and the skills to translate that passion to the players. We wanted leadership, a presence that could help us as we define the ‘Mariners Way’ to win. We wanted someone that both the community and the players could embrace. We wanted someone who sees the big picture and cares about the players and wants to win. Don embodies all of those traits.”
The 45-year-old was among a field of seven candidates interviewed by Zduriencik. None of the seven had previous major league managerial experience. The overwhelming fan favorite was former Seattle second baseman and current Chicago White Sox bench coach Joey Cora.
Wakamatsu will be the fifth manager in Seattle since the departure of Lou Piniella after the 2002 season. The Mariners have cycled through Bob Melvin, Mike Hargrove, John McLaren and Jim Riggleman since Piniella left, with none of the four approaching Piniella’s success.
Wakamatsu replaces Riggleman, who took over in June when McLaren was fired after a 25-47 start to a season in which the Mariners were expected to contend for the playoffs. Riggleman wasn’t even considered for the latest opening.
McLaren was on the job less than 12 months, after Hargrove quit suddenly in the middle of the 2007 season — the last time Seattle was winning.
The Mariners lost 101 games this season, their most since 1983, and became the first team to lose 100 with a $100 million payroll. Now they hope Wakamatsu can bring some stability and aid in the redevelopment of a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2001.
“This is something I’ve looked forward to for a long time,” Wakamatsu said in a statement. “It is a tremendous opportunity and I can’t wait to get going with Jack and his group as we start working on the 2009 team.”
A former catcher, Wakamatsu spent almost his entire playing career in the minors, except for 18 games with the White Sox in 1991. His final season in the minors was in 1996 as player-coach of the Mariners’ Double-A Port City farm team.
He managed four seasons in the minors but never higher than Double-A before joining the Rangers’ bench in 2003.
Wakamatsu, who was born in Hood River, Ore., says he knows only a little Japanese — always a consideration in Seattle, where All-Star Ichiro Suzuki is the franchise cornerstone — though it has improved recently with the A’s and Rangers.
He also understands management doesn’t expect this to be a long-term rebuilding project.
“In general, it’s a young team that maybe with some prodding we can win right away,” Wakamatsu said last week.
News out of Dodger land from the GearUpForSports blog:
I just read an article today on ESPN written by Peter Gammons. In the article he stated “Some Dodger officials have spread the word that Martin will either be traded or moved to third base, with a Jason Varitek signing a possibility”. Could this really be true? Here I thought the Dodgers were building their team around Martin and molding him as their captain. I know you’re probably thinking he’s a little bit too green to be their captain, but I swear the Dodgers seemed to be really hot on this guy.
Now would Martin fetch a lot for the Dodgers in a trade? ..for sure. With the serious lack of talented catchers in the league, Martin would easily become one of the hottest trades in the off season. As Peter Gammons puts it, “Red Sox will do a headfirst dive to get in on Martin”.
No matter how this shapes up, this offseason is abundant with talented free agents like Manny Ramirez, Garret Anderson, Adam Dunn, Rafeal Furcal and Mark Teixeira to name a few. Watching where they land will be very interesting and if you’re like me and want to follow the free agency market this offseason, check out ESPN’s free agent tracker.
Time to get some better Umpires… from ESPN:
PHILADELPHIA — For the second time in two days, umpires acknowledged they missed a key call in the World Series.
The Philadelphia Phillies scored in the first inning of Game 4 on Sunday night after Jimmy Rollins scampered safely back to third during a rundown. But television replays showed he was tagged on the backside by Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria and should have been called out by third base ump Tim Welke.
“He’s seen the replay. He knows he missed it,” Mike Port, Major League Baseball’s vice president for umpiring, said Monday.
This is the first postseason in which baseball is using replay — though only to review home run calls.
Longoria swiped his arm in frustration after Rollins was called safe, and Rays manager Joe Maddon came out for a brief argument.
“I just saw him swing and miss. I never saw a tag,” Welke explained after Sunday night’s game. “That’s a swipe tag. A lot of times on a swipe tag, the glove will pause. I saw him try to make a swipe tag but I never saw the glove pause.”
Rollins wound up scoring when Pat Burrell drew a bases-loaded walk from Andy Sonnanstine, and the Phillies went on to a 10-2 victory that gave them a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Series.
It was the Rays who got a break in Game 3, when speedy Carl Crawford was called safe by first base umpire Tom Hallion on a seventh-inning bunt single. Replays showed Jamie Moyer’s glove flip to first baseman Ryan Howard beat Crawford on a close play.
“Bang-bang play, and I tried to get the best angle on it,” Hallion told a pool reporter. “I really didn’t get a sound to be able to judge. It winds up being a great play. And looking at a replay here, they just got him.”
Crawford scored as part of a two-run rally and Tampa Bay tied it later, but Philadelphia won 5-4.
There were a couple of disputed calls during the first two games at Tampa Bay, too. Maddon screamed for a balk on Cole Hamels when he picked off a runner in the opener, and Rocco Baldelli drew a key walk on a checked swing in Game 2 that the Phillies thought had been called strike three.
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