brooklyn bridge traffic, by Idle Type at flickrToday on the Gothamist Newsmap: a crime scene/hanging at East 13th St. and Shore Parkway in Brooklyn, a child mauled by a dog in the area of 91-43 Gold Rd. in Queens, and a possible escaped prisoner on Wards Island across from Manhattan. Asbestos removal at the Carroll St. F and G line station appears to be a non-issue. Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn received a note......

Of course Joe Torre's decision to reject a $5 million one-year contract (with $3-million in bonuses if he progressed into the off-season) coaching the Yankees for another year is the big news story of the day, if not the month. The speculation about whether he would keep his job has been scuttlebutt for weeks (or months, when the Yankees fell behind over the summer). Yes, the offer was a pay cut and, yes, now......

Tonight, the Yankees will face off against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium, and many hope the Bronx Bombers can avoid the sweep (and mayflies) and claw their way back to winning this first round of playoff games. Since things are so nerve-wracking, we thought some Yankees fans - and even haters - might be find this Village Voice story funny. Found amongst the paperwork that showed how the Yankees were basically billing the city......

Former Yankees shortstop and long-time announcer for the team Phil Rizzuto died this morning at the age of 89. Rizzuto played his entire professional baseball career with the New York Yankees after being selected by the team as an amateur free agent in 1937. He wouldn't play his first major league game with the Yanks until 1941, but then served as shortstop for 13 seasons, during which the Bronx Bombers won 10 Pennants and 8......

The first release numbers for All-Star Game balloting was released yesterday for the National League and four Mets are leading in the yearly popularity contest. Jose Reyes, David Wright, Paul Lo Duca, and Carlos Beltran lead at their respective positions, with Beltran as the leading vote-getter in the National League across all positions. Reyes and Wright made their first appearances at the "Midsummer Classic" last season, while Lo Duca is a four-time All Star and......

Darrel Rasner's broken index finger sends yet another Yankees pitcher to the sidelines for as long as three months, and necessitates that Joe Torre call up yet another young prospect to deal from the mound for the Bronx Bombers. The candidate making his Major League debut pitching at an away game in the high profile Subway Series at Shea will likely be Tyler Clippard, a righthanded 22-year-old. Just nine weeks ago, Clippard acknowledged that as......

The dust-up over Rudy Giuliani's waffling over abortion is small political beans in comparison to a liability he cannot possibly shrug off. Rudy Giuliani is an unapologetic Yankees fan, and people outside of NYC (and some within the confines of the city) HATE the Yankees. With a passion. There's a fabled Broadway musical called "Damn Yankees!" and it's not about Paul Revere or George Washington. To the hometown fan and natural supporter, Giuliani's support......

We certainly know how some Yankee fans feel about the baseball season so far, but what about The Boss? George Steinbrenner, the Yankees principal owner released a statement yesterday, supporting manager Joe Torre and general manager Brian Cashman. Steinbrenner's statement said:"The season is still very young, but up to now the results are clearly not acceptable to me or to Yankee fans. However, Brian Cashman, our general manager, Joe Torre, our manager, and our......

A look at some noteworthy television this week: Grease: You're the One That I Want (Sunday, 8:00 p.m., WNBC 4) This fakeality show finally ends tonight. Masterpiece Theatre - Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness (Sunday, 9:00 p.m., WNET 13) Helen Mirren stars in one of her best roles – Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison. Despite being on PBS, the Prime Suspect series do tend to be a bit bowlderized from the British original thanks......

Would-be Yankee pitcher Kei Igawa took a visit to Yankee Stadium last night as the Yankees and the 27 year-old lefty close in on contract negotiations. Reports say that the two parties have agreed in principle on a five-year, $20 million contract. The Yankees bid $26 million just for the right to negotiate with Igawa after failing to bid enough to negotiate with Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. While in town, Igawa was traipsing around......

The Mayor is very chummy with the Governor - it must be leftover appendectomy sympathy or something - as they announced their supoprt for a Metro-North station near the new Yankee stadium in the Bronx. Now, the MTA doesn't have any money earmarked to actually build the station, which officials hope will help ease South Bronx congestion (those suburban fans who drive into to see the Bronx Bombers play) as well as encourage people visit......

Nothing the Yankees do is without controversy. The proposed new stadium for the Bronx Bombers is coming under fire from some Bronx residents as the plan calls for the stadium to be built on two parks - the Macombs Dam Park and John Mullaly Park. The public hearing on the $800 million project had 85 speakers which the Daily News reports were chanting back and forth - "Build it now!" and "Not on the park!".......

Breaking news: the Yankees are headed to the playoffs!! Okay, maybe that's not so "breaking" from a team that is expected to win the World Series, but it's news nonetheless. Yesterday, the Yankees made the playoffs for the 10th straight season. They clinched by beating the Devil Rays, 7-3 (box score). Now, all they have to do is win the AL East, something they look to do this weekend against the Red Sox. If......

The Yankees took three games over the weekend from a struggling Toronto team to increase their record to 71-39 overall and expand their lead over the Red Sox to 10.5 games. In the first three games of the four game series the Yankees outscored Toronto 25-6. Friday 11-4, Saturday 6-0 and Sunday 8-2 In Friday's 11-4 win over the Blue Jays, Javier Vasquez came out of the box a bit slow and gave up......

When the game started it looked like it would be a typical Yankees-Orioles game. The Yankees hit Sir Sydney Ponson hard in the first inning, but only managed one run, on a Gary Sheffield RBI single. Jose Contreras was sharp the first two innings, sending the Orioles down in order. 1-0 Yankees after two innings. The next seven innings went south in a hurry for the Bronx Bombers. Melvin Mora hit a two-out two RBI......

In the past week, we have seen Felix Heredia come in five times out of the last six games. In most situations it is to face the opponents best left-handed hitter. In those five games, Heredia has faced 11 batters and has retired only three of them, has given up five hits, and has walked three. It makes you wonder why Joe Torre continues to go back to him in big spots. Last night Heredia......

The Yankes got exactly what they needed last night from Jose Contreras. Contreras pitched six and two-thirds of three hit, one earned run innings. The Yankees beat Tampa Bay 7-1 and maintained their 6 game lead over the Boston Red Sox. Pitching was the key to the Yankee win last night. After Contreras left the game, Paul Quantrill (who is on pace to pitch in every Yankee game this season) pitch 2/3 of an inning......

After a disappointing Subway Series for the Bronx Bombers, the Yankees came home to face the Detroit Tigers in a three games series. The Yanks won the opening game in the series 10-3, with the long ball and solid pitching. The game was 7-0 after two innings, but that did not keep things from getting interesting. In the fourth inning of last night's contest, Esteban Yan (Detroit second pitcher of the night) threw a......

- Retief Goosen holds off Phil Mickelson to win the US Open despite the impossible greens. - The Nets wheel and deal in preparation for the NBA Draft. - The Bronx Bombers drop two in LA, but stay in first. - Play at Wimbeldon begins and the Brooklyn Cyclones play at home. - Iron Mike Tyson gets his license to fight in the Garden State. - The Bobcats go digging in the expansion draft......

The New York Yankees had a seven-game winning streak over the Baltimore Orioles broken last night in Camden Yards, falling to the Orioles, 13-2. Jon Lieber pitched poorly, giving up 11 hits and seven runs (five of them earned) in 3 2/3 innings. Lieber has not had a solid outing in a month and right now is embarrassed by his pitching. His pitches are finding to much of the plate, and his sinker is not......

Mayor Bloomberg and Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz have put their stomachs as well as sports prides on the line. Mayor Bloomberg's office released this press release about their friendly wager: Mayor Bloomberg says, "My confidence in the Bronx Bombers is so high, I am tempted to wager the Brooklyn Bridge. Since Miami is really New York’s farthest suburb, I thought all those transplanted New Yorkers might be tempted by a taste of home. For......