- Yankees 3, Angels 2: For all the talk about how the Yankees can't beat the Angels, the Yankees did finish 5-5 against Los Angeles of Anaheim this season. The fifth and final win came with some irregulars -- including Jerry Hairston Jr., Shelley Duncan and Jose Molina -- in the lineup. It also included Ian Kennedy, back from an aneurysm, wriggling out of an eighth-inning jam. A.J. Burnett pitched 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball for the win. Robinson Cano had a critical two-run single. Melky Cabrera followed that up with an RBI double. Mariano Rivera got the save. The Yankees should have a chance to clinch the American League East this weekend when second-place Boston comes to town.
Last Night's Action: Inching Closer
Last Night's Action: A Great Win
It started with Ian Kennedy providing six solid innings of pitching. Kennedy has been horrendous so far this year and maybe it was the news that Joba is coming to take his spot, maybe it was something else, but he was a different pitcher tonight. Shelley Duncan who has also longed for 2007, provided the initial run and Robinson Cano, the guy who represents the Yankees’ offensive failures in 2008 provided the game-winner with two outs in the ninth. Even Joe Girardi got involved, channeling Billy Martin with a justified meltdown in the ninth after a blown call by the umpires.
Today's Action: A Double Downer
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only baserunning gaffe for the Mets. Carlos Beltran got doubled off of third on a line drive to end the game. Some people will make excuses for Beltran, but he wasn’t running on contact and should have been closer to third with only one out.
Last Night's Action: Still Alive
- Rangers 3 Pittsburgh 0: If New York pulls off the impossible, coming back from a 3-0 deficit, the turning point will be a Henrik Lundqvist save in the second period when Pittsburgh had a penalty shot. Lundqvist’s save was only part of his great night as he made huge saves every time the Rangers needed one.
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Last Night's Action: One Up And One Down
Last Night's Action: Hanging On for Dear Life
For the Yankees, Will It Be 27 in '08?
Joe Girardi made the goal clear from his introductory press conference donning the number 27 to represent the quest for a 27th title. But, despite their tremendous resources and talent, this Yankees’ team is further away from winning a title than any in recent memory because of the question surrounding the starting pitching.
Who's Running the Yankees? It's Hank and Hal
For all the noise of this Yankees offseason, as far as the team on the field goes, all it amounted to was the status quo. Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera are all back -- and richer. Young pitchers Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and center fielder Melky Cabrera didn't go to the Twins for Johan Santana. The 2008 Yankees will be a slightly older albeit considerably more expensive version of the 2007 team. And most fans are fine with that.
Popular Opinion Says Trade for Santana Is Good for Mets
The big sports news of the day isn't the Super Bowl. It's the probable Johan Santana trade that the Mets and Twins agreed to yesterday. And from the reaction of the local papers and sportswriters, it seems like the Mets pulled a fast one on the rubes from Minnesota. If the Mets can sign Santana to a contract extension, it's likely that he will become the highest paid pitcher in baseball, surpassing Barry Zito of the San Francisco Giants. It's believed that Santana and his agent Peter Greenberg are looking for a 6 or 7-year deal in the range of $20-25 million per year.
Quick Hits: No Love For Newark; Gold Gloves; Cabrera?
If Barry Melrose ever goes to Newark, he probably won't be getting a warm reception. Melrose, a hockey analyst for ESPN and a former player and manager, said some disparaging words about the city of Newark when talking about the new Devils arena on his webcast last week. Melrose said, "It looks great on the inside but don't go outside, especially if you got a wallet or anything else because the area around the building...
Times Weddings Highlights, Plus Some Others
This past week, the big wedding wasn't even real! According to the many paparazzi photographs of the Sex & the City movie filming, it seems that Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw is finally stepping down the aisle. With, we assume, Mr. Big. The wedding between the fictional sex columnist-turned-author and the rich business guy (it's never been totally clear what Big does, except smirk and show up at the right and wrong times) took place at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The bride wore Vivienne Westwood, her bridesmaids did not wear matching bridesmaid gowns. We'll know more when the movie comes out next year.
The Wizard of Oz, Starring the New York Yankees
The Wizard of Oz has really been updated for current times. Now, in addition to Toto, Dorothy carries a bag from the 5th Avenue Apple Store with her. At least that's what Dorothy, played by Ian Kennedy, did as part of the Yankees' rookie hazing tradition where green players dress up in crazy outfits. We expect this version of The Wizard of Oz to come to an off, off, off Broadway location in the post-season.
Last Night's Action: Fine Effort Wasted
Last Night's Action: Outlasting the Royals

- Yankees 3 Kansas City 2: It wasn’t always pretty and it was too close for comfort, but in the end the Yankees got the job done. Alex Rodriguez got things going in the second with his 49th home run of the year and Jorge Posada added his 19th to put the Yankees up 2-0. But, Ian Kennedy struggled with his command, walking three in the first and then allowing four hits in the second to tie the score, but he escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam to prevent further damage.
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Last Night's Action: Welcome to the Bigs
Quick Hits: Dolan No Likey; Milledge Wrong?
- Aww poor James Dolan, he doesn't like it when people pick on him and make a little website asking him to sell the team. Cafe Press got a nice letter from Dolan's lawyers saying that the Selltheknicks.com store was infringing on his intellectual property, specifically his likeness and his name. Can Knick fans send a letter to Dolan's lawyers claiming infringement on their loyalties and better senses? Selltheknicks.com says they are fighting the move.

