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A-Rod rejoins Yankees, Nick Swisher added as special advisor

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The people love Swish. (Presswire)

Alex Rodriguez is back with the Yankees. So is Nick Swisher. This morning the Yankees announced A-Rod, Hideki Matsui, and Reggie Jackson are returning to the Yankees as special advisors to Brian Cashman, and Swisher has been hired in the same capacity. I imagine this means A-Rod will be in camp at some point.

“These are exciting times for the New York Yankees, and I do not take his opportunity for granted,” said Rodriguez in a statement. “I am genuinely thankful for the trust the organization has placed in me, and I am looking forward to lending whatever support or expertise is needed of me. I continue to cherish The Pinstripes, the fans and my involvement with the Steinbrenner family, Brian Cashman, and his world-class staff.”

Matsui and especially Reggie have been special advisors for years now. They just have new contracts. Rodriguez had served as a special advisor after being released in August 2016 through the end of his player contract in 2017. Hal Steinbrenner said a few weeks ago he was talking to Alex about bringing him in back in some capacity.

As for Swisher, he announced his retirement last February and is getting back into baseball after the proverbial year away from the game. He helped out during Captain’s Camp and is in Spring Training as a guest instructor. Now he has a full-time front office gig with the Yankees. How about that?

In the past A-Rod, Matsui, and Reggie worked primarily on the minor league side, traveling to the various affiliates to work with prospects. I imagine Swisher will do the same as well. The Yankees offered Carlos Beltran a special advisor job earlier this offseason, but he opted to step away and spend a year with his family.

DotF: Solak’s first pro homer helps Staten Island to a win

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Here are the day’s notes:

  • RHP Chance Adams was included in the Helium Watch section of this week’s Prospect Hot Sheet. Interestingly enough, the write-up says his changeup is more advanced than his slider, which is pretty much the exact opposite of everything I’ve read since he was drafted last year. Weird.
  • RHP Jordan Foley was promoted to Double-A Trenton and LHP Nestor Cortes has been promoted to High-A Tampa, according to Josh Norris. They’ve both had very nice years. Foley, the team’s fifth round pick two years ago, is a full-time reliever now.
  • Reggie Jackson is joining the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders ownership group, reports Shane Hennigan. He’ll be part of the ownership group and serve as a special advisor to the club. So that’s two celebrity owners in the system. Bill Murray owns part the Charleston RiverDogs.
  • Here’s a good story on the Pulaski franchise by Benjamin Hill. Two years ago the ballpark was run down and attendance was terrible, which led to the Mariners ending their affiliation. A new owner came in, renovated the park, hooked up with the Yankees, and now the franchise is the crown jewel of the Appalachian League.

Triple-A Scranton (6-5 win over Durham in ten innings)

  • CF Mason Williams: 3-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 SB — 18-for-44 (.409) in his last eleven games
  • LF Ben Gamel: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB — walk-off single
  • C Gary Sanchez: 0-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB — picked a runner off second with a snap throw
  • 1B Ike Davis: 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
  • DH Tyler Austin: 1-4, 1 BB, 3 K
  • RHP Brady Lail: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 5/2 GB/FB — 43 of 70 pitches were strikes (61%)
  • LHP Phil Coke: 1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GB/FB — 17 of 29 pitches were strikes (58%)
  • RHP Gio Gallegos: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 Balk, 0/3 GB/FB — 30 of 44 pitches were strikes (68%) … 71/13 K/BB in 55.1 innings
  • RHP Nick Goody: 1 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 0/1 GB/FB — seven of 13 pitches were strikes (54%)

[Read more…]

Reggie Jackson is selling the old Yankee Stadium letters

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(AP)
Yes, those letters. (AP)

So, have you ever wanted to own the giant letters that spelled out “Yankee Stadium” on the facade of the old ballpark? Well now you can! Reggie Jackson, who purchased the letters after the old Stadium was torn down, is selling them through Sotheby’s and hopes to raise $300,000 to $600,000, according to David Li.

When I first came across this story this morning, I thought some old historic handwritten letters found in the bowels of the old Yankee Stadium were up for sale. But no, these are literally the giant letters that spelled out “Yankee Stadium.” Here’s more from Li:

“I see this auction as an opportunity for a new generation to own and enjoy this icon of the Yankees and of New York City,” Jackson said in a statement released by Sotheby’s.

“There were a few items I wanted to purchase before the old Yankee Stadium was torn down, including my old locker and a section of the black bleachers off of center field. But I kept thinking about the stadium lettering, and if there was any way for me to own it. I ended up making an offer, and was thrilled when it was accepted – it’s been a privilege to own such a recognizable piece of baseball history.”

The 13 letters each stand ten feet high and are constructed out of an aluminum casing and blue plexiglass. I have no idea how wide or deep the letters are, but chances are they weigh a few hundred pounds each. The letters were added to the facade following the 1976 renovation and remained there until the place was torn down after 2008.

Owning a piece of the old Yankee Stadium like this would be really awesome. Practical? Hell no. But awesome? Hell yes. If I was a) rich, and b) had some place to display these giant letters, I’d be all about it. But I’m not, so forget it.

Reggie Jackson putting World Series three-homer game jersey up for auction

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Via Anthony Sulla-Heffinger: Reggie Jackson is putting the jersey from his three-homer game in the 1977 World Series up for auction. The proceeds will go towards his family and his charity, the Mr. October Foundation for Kids. Reggie hit three homers on three pitches off three different Dodgers pitchers in Game Six to help clinch the team’s 21st championship.

“Give someone $100,000 and it changes lives … I collected because I was a fan, and that stuff has turned into significant value. I’ve never sold anything except my stuff, because my stuff I guess is not as important to me as some of the other things I’ve collected,” said Jackson. The jersey will sold as part of an online auction at the California-based SCP Auctions from April 10-26. Late last year Don Larsen sold his uniform from his 1956 World Series perfect game for $756k at auction.

Reggie Jackson invited to rejoin Yankees later this week

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As it turns out, Reggie Jackson’s indefinite ban from the team will last less than two weeks. George King reports that Mr. October has been invited to rejoin the club when they head out to Oakland later this week. Jackson was banned after making disparaging comments about Alex Rodriguez, Gary Carter, Kirby Puckett, and others during a recent Sports Illustrated interview, and he is not expected to be part of the Hall of Fame ceremony later this month.

Yankees tell Reggie Jackson to stay away from team indefinitely

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Via Buster Olney, the Yankees have told Reggie Jackson to stay away from the team until informed otherwise. Reggie made some disparaging comments about Alex Rodriguez and his past PED use — as well as others like the late Gary Carter and Kirby Puckett — to Sports Illustrated last week. He has spoken to A-Rod and apologized, but the team still asked him to stay away. Jackson, 66, is a special advisor for the Yankees and hangs around the team all the time, though for now he’ll have to sit on the sidelines.

This isn’t rocket science. The Yankees employ Reggie and when an employee makes comments like that, you have to take action. Normal schmucks like you and I would have been fired. It’s all damage control, they’re just avoiding a potential distraction. Olney says Jackson’s return to the organization at some point has not been ruled out, but I would be surprised if he’s back anytime soon.

Must-click link: Reggie Jackson in No-Man’s Land

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I never got to see Reggie Jackson play for the Yankees and frankly I don’t remember seeing him play for any team ever. Such is the curse of being a 1980s baby. Reggie is still with the team as a special assistant on what feels like an everyday basis, but the current version is a little more subdued than the Mr. October who played for 21 years.

I’m about ten days late on this, but it’s worth posting nonetheless. Alex Belth of Bronx Banter recently re-published Robert Ward’s celebrated “Reggie Jackson in No-Man’s Land” article from the June 1977 issue of Sport magazine, the first time the article has appeared online in its entirety. This is the infamous “I’m the straw that stirs the drink” article, and it’s absolutely amazing. It’s a pretty long read, but make sure you check it out.