Yanks, Bronx have yet to fulfill park money promise
By · CommentsWhen the Yanks, with the help of the City of New York, grabbed the Macombs Dam Park and appropriated it for their new ballpark, they agreed to pay back the Bronx through money that will go toward new parkland. Seventeen months later, the Yankees and the Bronx have yet to fulfill that promise.
Metro has a little bit more:
Central to [the new Yankee Stadium] deal was the promise of an annual $800,000 for Bronx nonprofits over the next 40 years. Critics labeled this a “slush fund,” because the money would be doled out by a new not-for-profit staffed by representatives of Bronx elected officials, and it didn’t have to be spent in the affected community. The funds were to start flowing, the agreement said, “upon the commencement of the construction.”
So imagine the surprise of Geoffrey Croft last week, when he discovered — one full year after the stadium’s groundbreaking — no such not-for-profit has been registered with the state yet, and no funds have been disbursed.
While I may object to the new stadium on the grounds that it’s simply not necessary – and an average home attendance of 52,645 would bear me out – the Yanks have continually stiffed the Bronx community on this deal. As the article notes, the city gave up the parkland to the Yanks with no public hearing.
Now, you may fault community silence, and it does seem that these Save Our Parks folks haven’t gotten nearly the attention they deserve. But the Yanks owe it to the city to make up for the missing parkland. At a deep discount, they’re taking public lands. They should replace it sooner than 17 months after construction started on the new stadium.
ByPeter Abraham has a few choice words from Mike Mussina:
“We’re leading the wild card now and we want to stay after it. The last four days we haven’t played very well. We’ve been flat it seems like. We’ve got to get our heads on right and play with some energy.”
I was all set to write a post on this tonight, but Mussina summed up my feelings in fewer words. After dropping three of four this weekend, panic has set in a bit among Yankee fans. But the Yanks still lead the Wild Card, and they will win games. I think we’re see a re-energized Yankee team take the field behind Chien-Ming Wang on Tuesday night. Time to go for the kill. · (11) ·
ByAfter giving up five runs in four innings, Roger Clemens left the game today. His first stop: New York-Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI. Even if it comes up completely clean, he’ll miss his next start. Mike Mussina, who didn’t look very impressive but at least was hitting 88 and 89 on the YES gun in his 3.2 innings, will start in his place. · (1) ·
Another year in the books
By · CommentsToday was the last day of the regular season for the 4 full season affiliates, who finished the year with a combined 329-236 record. As I said the other day, that record shows not only how much depth & talent the Yanks have in the minors, but it’s also a testament to the quality of coaching and instruction they have in place.
DotF will of course keep you updated on all the minor league playoff action.
Triple-A Scranton (8-5 win over Pawtucket) Scranton will take on Richmond in the first round of the AAA playoffs, which kicks off on Wednesday…Chad Jennings reports the that postseason rotation could be Steven White in Game 1, followed in order by The Ghost of Kei Igawa, Mighty Matt DeSalvo & Jeff Karstens
Brett Gardner: 4 for 5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 SB
Austin Jackson: 1 for 3, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 SB - even if it was just a 1 game cameo, how many of you had Ajax finishing the year in AAA?
Bronson Sardina: 2 for 5, 2 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 SB - his year was a lot better than it appears on the surface
Mike Kinkade: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K
Eric Duncan: 2 for 2, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB - finished the year on a nice little 26 for 100 streak with 9 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 24 RBI, 10 walks & 23 K
Andy Cannizaro: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B
Anthony Claggett: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HB – 41 of 63 pitches were strikes (65.1%)
Eric Hacker: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Ben Kozlowski: 1.1 IP, zeroes
ByWhen the Tigers were in town a few weeks ago, Andy Van Slyke tried to jump the subway turnstiles at Yankee Stadium. As any astute fan knows, the transit cops lie in wait at the ends of games, and Van Slyke was slapped with a $60 ticket at the time. Read more about it at Second Ave. Sagas. · (2) ·
Game 138: It’s like the 2003 ALCS all over again
By · CommentsRoger Clemens is starting with Mike Mussina ready in the bullpen. Sound familiar?
Meanwhile, to address a point that Rich raised in the comments to this post, at some point, Joe Torre simply has to go with someone else from the bullpen. Sure, these guys won’t be consistent, but they will get outs. Edwar Ramirez had one great inning yesterday, and he could have done that in the 7th with Joba in the 8th.
No one has a sure-fire bullpen anymore, but other managers trust their relievers enough to go to them in close games. If Torre is willing to use only two people when the Yanks are fighting for a game, the rest of Septembe — not to mention the playoffs — could be problematic too. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than watching Andy Pettitte, who has a history of elbow problems, throw 119 pitches in back-to-back starts.
The lineup that will face King Felix today:
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Reinforcements arrive for Trenton’s playoff drive
By · CommentsHey that rhymes!
Triple-A Scranton (4-0 win over Pawtucket)
Brett Gardner: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 SB - boosts his BA up to .244
Eric Duncan, Bronson Sardinha & Raul Chavez: all 0 for 4 – Duncan K’ed twice…Sardinha drove a run in & swiped a bag
Mike Kinkade: 1 for 2, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SB, 1 HBP
Jose Cruz Jr.: 3 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 K
Angel Chavez, Andy Cannizaro & Juan Francia: all 1 for 4 – Chavez swiped a bag & allowed a passed ball…Cannizaro doubled & K’ed…Francia scored a run & stole a base
Jeff Karstens: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K, 1 WP – 61 of 88 pitches were strikes (69.3%)…this can’t be the same Jeff Karstens that we saw 2 weeks ago, can it?
Ross Ohlendorf: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
TJ Beam: 1 IP, zeroes, 1 K – since coming off the DL on June 23rd, he’s got a 27-3 K/BB ratio in 31.2 IP
Game 137: Just win baby
By · CommentsJoba’s fosh 2 game suspension is over and he’s available out of the ‘pen. Pity the D-Rays.
Lineup:
1. Johnny Damon, LF – how good has he been out in left?
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. AL MVP, 3B
5. Hideki “don’t call me Kaz” Matsui, DH
6. Jorge Posada, C
7. Robbie Cano, 2B
8. Andy Phillips, 1B
9. Melky Cabrera, CF
Toeing the rubber is Andy Pettitte, who’s been every bit the ace that no one outside of Yankeeland said he would be.
(sorry for the pathetic post, I guess that’s what happens when you leave it to the minor league guy to cover the big league squad)
ByOn that date, I first referred to Ian Kennedy as IPK.
Fast forward 4 months and you’ll see that blogging juggernauts Peter Abraham and No Maas have begun to freely use the moniker.
I’m not looking to gloat or anything like that, I just think it’s pretty cool that it’s spread like it has, and hopefully I get a tiny bit of credit for it somewhere down the line. · (8) ·
