Sweet Sweet Laura.....

Jorge is a total stud.....

See you in September B.G.

My boy Brett Gardner finally got sent down to the minors last night after tearing it up this spring. He is going to he the yanks secret weapon this fall come playoff time cause this whiteboy has JETS. If they need someone to swipe a bag this fall, he is your man......

I also root for this guy b/c he was a walk on in college and worked his way up to being al all-american and a 2nd round pick. Mark my words, he is going to cause some havoc on the base paths this fall if the yanks make the playoffs.

My Brother in Law's Trip to see the Yanks...

The Yankees in Sarasota

By Christopher Pierznik
Special Guest Contributor


Unlike most Phillies or neutral fans, I’ve never hated the Yankees. There may have been times that I haven’t been pulling for them, but I’ve always respected them and Derek Jeter should be revered as being the epitome of what a baseball player should be.

So when I found out that the first spring training game I would ever attend in person would be pitting the Yankees against the Cincinnati Reds, I was almost as eager as I would’ve been had it been a Phils game.

I was visiting a close friend in Sarasota and he lives less than ten minutes from the Reds home field, Ed Smith Stadium, in Florida (until the club’s probable move to Arizona next year). Approaching the “stadium,” it feels as if you’re attending an American Legion playoff game, only with more traffic. Parking wasn’t a problem since there is a large grass lot that is open to everyone for the astronomical price of $5. No umbrellas are permitted in the stadium and with rain appearing on the horizon, it looked ominous but I wasn’t deterred. (After all, I was on vacation.)

Once inside the gates, it feels crowded but not cramped. Those who are afraid of the weather purchase see-thru Reds ponchos but most of us decide to take our chances rather than looking like the Kool-Aid guy. We buy a few beers (great selection, by the way) and make our way to our seats.

Here again the old-time ballpark feel is evident. While there are seats (not benches) in almost every part of the stadium, there aren’t many aisles, so if your seats are in the middle of the row, like ours were, then getting to your seat and going to the bathroom is a much bigger ordeal than even in the oldest of MLB parks. Also, it’s Florida, so old retired people are everywhere and they do not like to get up for young people (nor do they move very fast).

We get situated and the sightlines are fantastic. I’ve heard the term “not a bad seat in the house” used repeatedly but I only felt it was appropriate when talking about Citizens Bank Park (sorry, The House That Ruth Built). However, this place is so small and the seats are so close to the field – and one another – that there really isn’t a bad spot in the building. (If you’re willing to stand throughout the whole game, then your spot is even better because the walkways of Ed Smith Stadium make you feel like you’re standing next to Jeter & A-Rod.)

The bottom of the first sees Rodriguez hit a 3-run jack over the wall in left-center field and the assault on Matt Belisle was underway. (Giving up seven runs and eight hits in three innings? Ouch.) Ken Griffey Jr. also had an RBI (he finished 1-for-4) in the first – and probably last – game I’ll ever see him play live. Phil Hughes gave up “only” four runs but did he allow nine hits in less than three innings of work.

After five innings, Jeter, A-Rod, and Damon are done for the afternoon. They make their way to the warning track in leftfield and 65% of spectators follow to watch them do wind sprints from the leftfield corner to the scoreboard in center. Despite pleas and stares of love and adulation from both males and females (of all ages), they make their way back to the Yankee dugout and immediately to the showers. Speaking of showers, as if the clouds were waiting for the stars to get undercover, the sky immediately opened up and a heavy rain descended upon us as we ran under the bleachers in shallow left.

The tarp was brought out and it looked like the game was over (we were stuck there as our ride had to run to the office for an hour) but the rain let up and the teams’ young future stars and hopefuls got back out there. We took a walk around and saw a white dude wearing a backwards hat with a pad of paper on his lap signing autographs. As it turned out, it was the architect of the Yanks, Mr. Brian Cashman, with a crowd waiting patiently to meet him.

Meanwhile, a much larger crowd had gathered around a roped-off walkway in the concourse near the front of the stadium where the visiting team’s players left the locker room. Fans with bats, balls, pictures, cameras and notepads waited for a glimpse – and hopefully more – of one of the Yankees as some cars more expensive than many houses waited just outside the gate.

Johnny Damon was the first to emerge and he signed a few autographs for the crowd on his way out. A-Rod was next, led by his manager with an expensive blue pinstripe suit, and he didn’t even acknowledge the fans begging for his time. He hopped in the passenger seat of the biggest – and whitest – white Chevy Suburban I’ve ever seen. Finally here comes Jeter, signing a few items, smiling that famous smile, before hopping into his tricked-out champagne-colored H2 and taking off. Without him, there wasn’t much more to see and the rest of us followed their lead and left while the younger kids played on, trying to earn a roster spot.

See you in a week!!!!

Jean Rice and me, holding it down in lot 13 - May 2004............

10 Days Away Baby!!!

Just received our tickets for the final opening day at Yankee Stadium. Melk Man and S.D.F. will not be suspended for the game as their appeal hearing has been pushed back! Let me know if you are going and we will meet up in the parking lot for a few beers.

Va Tech

Hughes, a Bostonian who coached at Boston College, received a text message from Red Sox manager Terry Francona early Tuesday morning.

"He said, 'Good luck. Pound Jeter inside. Go get 'em,'" Hughes said. "It was pretty cool."
Still, even as a lifelong Red Sox fan, Hughes was thrilled to welcome the Yankees to English Field, chatting with manager Joe Girardi and several players before the game.

"You grow up hating the Yankees your whole life and your kids are born into that mentality," Hughes said. "I will forever look at them differently after today. For these guys to get out of their spring training routine because it's important for them to be a part of this - and they gave a million dollars - I look at the Yankees differently now, and I always will."

Brack-Attack

• The Yankees have told Andrew Brackman, the 6-10 NC State fireballer/power forward who signed and had Tommy John surgery in August, to forget about trying to pitch in 2008. "They told me not to even think about pitching this season, just get healthy," says Brackman, who may be a monster talent.

Papelblown is a mouse

“Being insulted by Papelbon is like being attacked by a mouse,” Steinbrenner said. “John Henry and I traded a couple of jabs good-naturedly. So now, all of a sudden, this player, this 20-something kid who really doesn’t know his way in the world, comes out with a personal insult. There’s no excuse for that.”

Melk Man and Shelley Suspended 3 Games

This sucks! I was looking forward to watching them down in the bronx on opening day. Apparently Melky punhced Evan Longoria in the face! Dont F with Melky!

This means that damon will be in center and Sui in left leaving someone to DH. Cripes!

Also - My brother in law is down in tampa at todays game and said A-Rod just hit a 3 run jack in the bottom of the first. He's a beast!

Cead mile failte

Happy St. Patricks Day my peeps!!!! GO YANKEES!!!!

Frankie, Shelley has your back!!!!!

In the second inning on Wednesday, Yankees first baseman Shelley Duncan slid hard, spikes high, into Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura. Duncan was subsequently tackled by Rays right fielder Jonny Gomes, clearing the benches.

Duncan, Gomes, hitting coach Kevin Long and Yankees third base coach Bobby Meacham were ejected.

On Sunday, Duncan had dropped a hint that the Yankees might match the Rays' intensity on the basepaths."What it does is it opens another chapter of intensity in the spring training ballgames," Duncan said, referring to the home-plate collision. "They showed what is acceptable to them and how they're going to play the game, so we're going to go out there to match their intensity -- or even exceed it."

Who you riding with in 08???

This is a tough one............Many are saying Phil Franchise is gonna have a big year. Leave your answer in the comment section if you wish.

Tough Break Frankie

Francisco Cervelli will be out for 8-10 weeks following yesterday’s collision with the Rays Elliot Johnson. “I think it’s uncalled for in spring training. You get people hurt and that’s what we got, we got Cervelli hurt,” said Joe Girardi.

It's Not Funny Benedict!!!

Yanks not blessed by April schedule

The Yankees' April schedule is "terrible," as general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday, and it will affect the roster decisions they make in spring training.

After an eight-day, seven-game homestand, the Yankees spend 19 of the next 21 days on the road -- the only exception a two-game series against the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees are scheduled to play 18 road games in April, which would be a franchise record.
Traditionally, teams get extra off days in April. But this year the Yankees have a stretch of 19 consecutive days with a game, April 2-20.

"It's pretty stupid," Johnny Damon said. "Every year it doesn't make sense. We come home for two days. It's brutal. We're gone for seven, come home for two, gone for 10. Why even come home?"

There is one reason for the brutality:

The Pope. The original schedule had a more balanced April. But after it was completed, Pope Benedict scheduled an April 20 mass at Yankee Stadium. So some Yankees home games were flipped to accommodate the event and its preparation.

Jakey Boy!

Jake Beazley's first ever Yankee Game!

Keepin it Gangsta

S.D.F.

2 bombs....9 RBI so far this Spring. The Yanks need to get this kid some run this season b/c he's pretty much money

"He's done everything you can ask a man to do when he's trying to earn playing time," Joe Girardi said of Duncan, who is fighting for a spot at first base or in the outfield. "He's taking advantage of it. He's a ball of energy."

S.D.F.....Shelley Duncan Forever

Brett Gardner Rips

MiLB.com: What is your greatest accomplishment, on or off the field?

BG: Just getting to where I am today. Obviously I haven't played in the Major Leagues but out of high school I wasn't recruited by hardly any colleges. I barely made the team at College of Charleston as a walk-on. But I've worked hard, just to make the college team and then to get a couple of at-bats and then to become a starter. Just getting an opportunity to play here for the Yankees and be here in big league camp, I'm just glad to be in the situation I'm in right now.

MiLB.com: What is your favorite aspect of playing in the Yankees organization and why?

BG: The fans. The fans are tremendous. At nine, 10 in the morning there are two thousand people here to watch us stretch. We love them and appreciate them and no matter where we're playing, whether it's New Hampshire or Kentucky or New York or New Jersey we always have fans there. There are always Yankee fans around.

"It really motivates you when you're in the Minor Leagues to see guys you're playing alongside get a chance. And I'm not speaking just for myself, I'm speaking for 150 other guys. When I became a part of this organization in 2005 it wasn't like this. Everybody was kind of like, 'I hope I get traded.' Now the way the system is being run, a lot of guys are getting opportunities. Even if it's just for a few weeks, all guys like us want an opportunity."

Crazy Pic

Check out the old stadium in the backround......pretty crazy that it will be gone soon.

Sweet Jesus

Joe Girardi said he was impressed with how the 18-year-old caught in the Philadelphia game on Saturday. It was better than he looked during bullpen sessions.

“He had an ability to take charge. The way he was receiving the ball, I was impressed,” Girardi said. “Obviously I’ve always been impressed with his bat.”

"The improvement I saw in two weeks and into the game was amazing,” Girardi said. “Great kid, too.”

What happened to you Eric???

Eric Duncan was the Yankees first-round pick in 2003 out of Seton Hall Prep. He was one of the first players send down to the minors this spring as they Yanks made their first round of cuts this morning. He better get his act together or he will be looking for a new profession very shortly. Jesus Piece also got sent down already....Sorry Josh

Nice Outfit Papel-blown

Jonathan Papelbon on Hank: I don't know if he's trying to stir things up or not," he said. "I sure as hell don't care, because he sure as hell hasn't stepped foot on a baseball field. He needs to just stick to pencil-pushing, I guess. It's different if a player says that because they're the ones stepping between the war lines. Whatever, man. I'm not going to lose sleep over it, that's for sure. He's just trying to come up with something."

2008 Yankee Depth Chart - Catchers

Yankee Depth Chart - Catchers

1. Jorge Posada
2. Jose Molina
3. PJ Pilittere
4. Frankie Cervelli
5. Jason Brown
6. Jesus Piece Montero
   

Why Lie?? I Need a Beer!!!!

29 Days and Counting!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me and my man pictured above are gonna toast to the good life and Yankee championship #27!

PaScunci

What up scucci.

I know this is a Yankees blog, but I need to shout out the Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Football Giants. They went on one of the most remarkable runs in the history of sports. - Josh Luksberg

Cubans with the Jesus Piece, with my Peeps

Jesus Montero is now officially nicknamed Jesus Piece. He is going to be the best player in the history of baseball. Just 18 years old, he made his professional debut in the Gulf Coast League last year, hitting .280 with three home runs and 19 RBI. - Josh Luksberg

Igawa......You Suck!!!

Kei Igawa entered the Yankee's first exhibition game against the University of South Florida in the sixth inning of a game in which USF had managed just one base runner. Igawa walked 2, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and gave up a Grand Slam. Nice work zip!

Ajax

The best athlete in the organization is Austin Jackson. He moves better than LaDanian Tomlinson.”

- Reggie Jackson

Cash Money

Brian Cashman, in reference to young centerfield prospects Brett Gardner and Austin Jackson:

“We need athleticism like that, especially when you have a bunch of these old farts filling the roster out. Those young burst-of-energy, athletic guys really stand out on a team like ours.”