Results tagged “aleast”

In what can only be described as a shock, Joe Torre has decided not to return to the Bronx in 2008. Torre was offered a one-year deal at a base of $5-million with an additional $1-million guaranteed for each round of the playoffs that the Yankees reached. So, he could have made $8-million for getting to the World Series. The deal also included a team option for 2009 that would have vested at $8-million...

• Yankees 8 Baltimore 5: Nothing comes easy at the end of the year. The Yankees fell behind 2-0 before rallying for a 5-2 lead. But, Phil Hughes was shaky and had to be lifted in the sixth as the Orioles threatened. Edwar Ramirez managed to end that threat, but the Orioles rallied in the seventh and Luis Vizcaino had to come in and snuff out that rally. Kyle Farnsworth created problems in the ninth and an overused Mariano Rivera had to bail him out and end the game.
  Continue reading "Last Night's Action: Barely Beating Baltimore"

Sunday’s win was a flashback to the old days. Derek Jeter had the big hit, Roger Clemens had a great start and Mariano Rivera got the save. The win was huge for New York as it kept the Yankees 2-1/2 games ahead of Detroit with 13 left to play.

• Rockies 4 Yankees 3: It’s funny how the longer you watch baseball, the more you tend to see things repeat themselves. In 2005, the Yankees used a big winning streak to get out of a deep hole and climb above .500, only to fall back to .500 and below when they got swept by the Royals in a series where they made way too many mental errors and only scored six runs in three games. Those Yankees kept going a little above and below .500 until they reached 37-37 and then closed the season with a 58-30 run to win the AL East.
  Continue reading "Last Night's Action: Rocky Mountain Low"

Give him the shiny blue National League jacket, spangled with every team logo, not the Mets jacket. Sure, he'd use police barricades as planks to scale the fence at Shea, but he was there to root for players -- Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays and Juan Marichal -- not the home team. Too tight a circle. Too small an o.

With his recent health woes, all George Steinbrenner does is issue statements through his spokesperson. Today, however, the AP has an interview the Yankee principal owner. In the interview, the 76 year-old Steinbrenner talks about manager Joe Torre, Brian Cashman, Roger Clemens, and Jason Giambi. It wasn't so long ago that Steinbrenner issued a statement saying that he believed in Torre and Cashman.

In keeping with our lists of events from 2006, here are some of the sports stories that Gothamist found compelling in the past year. It ranges from the playoff disappointment from the Mets and the Yankees to the welcome performances of last season's Rangers, this season's Jets and Rutgers.

When the dust cleared after the elections on Tuesday, the Democrats were the last party standing. Even in a blue-leaning state like New York, Democrats had to play hard in their quest to dominate the old boys' club known as the Republican party. As Dems claimed victory in every state race, Republicans retreated and joined the ranks of some other New York losers.

-Blue Jays 3 Yankees 2: Sean Henn on the mound, Posada, Damon, Jeter and Giambi in the dugout; it’s hard to say the Yankees really wanted to win this game. Then again, that’s the luxury you have when you only need one more win (or Red Sox loss) to clinch the division. While New York couldn’t get the win, the Twins took care of Boston and the Yankees won their ninth-consecutive AL East crown.

-Yankees 9 Orioles 6: It took awhile, but the Yankees’ offense finally came alive in the seventh. After watching Randy Johnson struggle through six innings, New York erupted for six runs in the seventh; the key hit a three-run double by Robinson Cano to erase a four-run deficit.

With the U.S. Open behind thanks to two days of rain, plenty of tennis was played on Sunday in Flushing. Andre Agassi's final match, a loss to qualifier Benjamin Becker, drew most of the headlines, but Andy Roddick's resurgence also deserves some attention. He won his third-round match over Fernando Verdasco and will play Becker -- not Agassi -- in the fourth round. Jimmy Connors may have helped the 2003 champion, but only time, and tougher matches, will tell.

-Phillies 13 Mets 0: You have a 15-game lead in the middle of August, why would your best pitcher take the mound when he is less than 100%? Pedro Martinez felt discomfort in his calf while warming up, but didn’t tell anybody and he paid for it. Martinez surrendered six runs in only one inning of work as Philadelphia pounded New York. Martinez is listed as day-to-day, but with his next big start not scheduled until October, don’t expect to see him on the mound anytime soon.

- Mets 6, Nationals 4: John Maine's scoreless inning streak surely couldn't last. Former Yankee Nick Johnson ended the streak at 26 with a home run in the 4th inning of last night's win against the Nationals. Maine's chance of winning his third game ended in the 6th inning when the Nationals scored 3 runs, chasing him from the game. The Mets scored two in the 7th to break a 4-4 tie with RBI from Jose Valentin and Michael Tucker. Billy Wagner pitched a perfect 9th inning for his 27th save of the season. And for those readers that like to place the Mets in the AL East for comparison (not sure why you would) - their 70 wins would put them atop the Yankees.

-Yankees 6 Orioles 1: It has been a great week for New York, adding big names, going 5-1 and taking a two-game lead in the AL East. The Yankees latest victory was powered by solo homeruns from Damon, Jeter, Cabrera and Giambi combined with a shaky start from Jaret Wright. Wright only lasted his usual six innings while walking four and giving up five hits, but Baltimore could never come up with a big hit against him.

- Yankees 5, Orioles 4: The Yankees won their fifth game in a row Friday night with a 9th inning victory over the Orioles. Randy Johnson allowed four runs over his six inning outing, but didn't strike out a single batter for the second game in a row - only the second time that has happened in his career. The Yankees jumped to an early lead on a solo home run by Johnny Damon in the 1st and added to their lead with two runs in the 2nd. After the Orioles took the lead in the 5th, the Yankees tied it in the 7th. The score remained tied until Jorge Posada hit his 14th home run of the season. Before the game, the Yankees optioned designated Bubba Crosby for assignment and added another arm to the bullpen. The win keeps the Yankees a game ahead of the Red Sox for the AL East lead.

- Yankees 14, White Sox 3: It's always encouraging when you can beat one of the best teams in baseball. Even better when you beat them comfortably. At the end of the day though, a win is a win and the Yankees remain 1.5 games behind the Red Sox for the AL East lead and only 4 games behind the White Sox for the Wild Card. Who says the Wild Card has to come out of the AL Central? In drubbing the White Sox, every yankee starter reached base

- Yankees 5, Cyclones 2: The Staten Island Yankees beat the Cyclones for the 3rd game in a row to open the season. The game, played at Keyspan Park, was much closer than Tuesday's 18-0 shutout by the Yankees. On the plus side, the Cyclones did score their first runs at home all season.

-Red Sox 9 Yankees 3: For five innings it seemed like the Yankees might pull off an improbable sweep. They led Boston 3-1 heading into the sixth, but Jaret Wright suddenly lost control of his fastball and Boston jumped all over him and two subsequent relievers to cruise to a 9-3 victory. The loss leaves New York with a ½ game lead in the AL East.

The Yankees salvaged their weekend with a 9-3 victory over the Twins Sunday. Four home runs, two by Jason Giambi and one each from Robinson Cano and A-Rod powered New York. Chien-Ming Wang had his finest outing of the season, pitching seven strong innings for the win.

They had said it so often that you had to begin to believe it. “Bubba Crosby will be our centerfielder in 2006.” The Red Sox made a big trade, the Mets made big trades and signed Billy Wagner and nothing happened in the Bronx. It was getting too quiet.

Sunday, the Daily News reported that the Yankees lost anywhere from $50-80 million in 2005. The figure comes after adding 2005 payroll at around $200 million, revenue sharing of $75 million, a $33 million luxury tax and operating expenses. Yikes, $300+ million for an AL East Championship? On top of that, prices are going up next year with the premium tickets getting $20 more expensive.

-The Yankees beat the Red Sox today 8-4 guaranteeing them the the AL East Divison Title.

With their 2-1 win at Baltimore and Boston's 7-2 loss at home to Toronto, the Yankees are back alone in first place with just four to play. Wednesday's hero was Shawn Chacon, a midseason pickup off Colorado's scrap heap who has, for the most part, proven to be an asset in the rotation. With the win, the Yankees will start the three-game set in Boston no worse than tied with their rivals. Even given that advantage, the AL East still looks like a toss up from this point.

The Yankees' season comes down to this final week. They are in a flat-footed tie with Boston for the AL East lead, and both teams are a half game behind the Cleveland Indians for the wild card. For the Yankees, it is the first time the last week of the regular season has mattered since 1995. For Yankee fans, it may be a bit too tense; for baseball, it's great.

Now all the Yankees have to do is stay there. Their 2-1 win Wednesday combined with Boston's come-from-ahead 7-4 loss at Tampa Bay leaves New York half a game up on Boston with under two weeks to play. The Yankees' starting rotation may not look strong, but it's as strong as it's going to get. Randy Johnson pitched well enough so a Yankee fan didn't have to cringe when thinking of his contract. Mike Mussina is set to start tomorrow night, and Chien-Ming Wang, whose chances of pitching again this year had been written off, has also looked sharp.

Two Yankees who have received their share of criticism may have kept their team in the AL East race, at least for now. Jason Giambi hit a solo home run and Randy Johnson threw 7 one-hit innings during the Yanks' 1-0 win over Boston Sunday. By taking two of three, the Yankees trail Boston by three games. The teams close their season against each other in Boston.

The Yankees' dismal road trip had only its second highlight Wednesday, a 12-3 win at Milwaukee. Alex Rodriguez hit two home runs, including the 400th of his careeer, and his team's sputtering offense finally woke up. For all their troubles, the Yankees were only behind Boston by three games heading into Wednesday's games, and that was after losing nine of ten. Gothamist has been impressed by the Orioles, but it'll be tougher for them to be in first place in August than in early June. In other words, the Yankees could be a lot worse off in the AL East.

The Yankees finally ended their six-game losing streak with a 4-3 win in Minnesota on Saturday. Ruben Sierra's sacrifice fly in the 10th put the Yankees ahead, and they improved their record to 28-27. The win was a much-needed one for a team that has played so poorly of late.