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Jeter seeing more time as Yankees' DH

Written By limadu on Rabu, 27 Agustus 2014 | 14.25

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 8/26/2014 6:53 P.M. ET

DETROIT -- Derek Jeter has been spending more time as the designated hitter of late, and while the retiring Yankees captain would prefer to be wearing his glove out to shortstop, he has been satisfied with staying in the lineup.

Tuesday marked Jeter's fourth DH assignment of August, coming after he had been asked to DH only four times in the first four months of the season. Jeter points out that though he hasn't done it much during his career, he did serve as the Yanks' DH 25 times in 2012.

"Because of injuries, Carlos [Beltran] had to DH, so I haven't really thought about it," Jeter said. "My job is to come here and when I'm in the lineup, play. I like to play every day. I like to play shortstop every day. Everyone is aware of that, but I get it.

"I understand it. We've had a long stretch here. I think we only have a couple of more days off, and then we have another long stretch at the end of the year."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that the lengthy stretches without an off-day, as well as upcoming matchups against left-handed pitching in which Jeter will be expected to play, factored into his thinking.

"We have a lot of lefties coming up the next five days after today, where he's going to play, so try to give him a little blow when I can," Girardi said. "And I thought today was probably a good day. Two plane flights in two days, and as I said, we have day games after night games, so we're going to need him in there a lot."

Jeter's numbers have sagged of late. After batting .277 through the first four months of the season, he entered play on Tuesday batting just .209 (18-for-86) in August, with a .227 on-base percentage and a .267 slugging percentage. Jeter's last extra-base hit was a double on Aug. 11.

Girardi said that he does not believe there are any physical concerns with Jeter, but suggested that Beltran's return to part-time outfield duty may allow the Yankees to have Jeter serve as the DH more often.

"I'm in the mode that I'm just taking it day by day, but with Carlos being able to go into the outfield once in a while, it gives me more flexibility to do this," Girardi said.

Gardner feeling better, but sits with bruised ankle

DETROIT -- Brett Gardner said Tuesday that his bruised right ankle is showing signs of improvement, and the Yankees outfielder is moving closer to returning to the lineup.

Gardner said that he expects to be in the Yankees' lineup on Wednesday, having run for the first time since he sustained the injury on a foul ball on Saturday against the White Sox.

"I don't have any idea how it's going to feel, but I know it feels a whole lot better than it did yesterday," Gardner said before Tuesday's 5-2 Yankees loss.

Gardner hit in the cages for a second consecutive day Tuesday, having also taken swings in Kansas City the night before. He had wanted to run the bases during batting practice Tuesday, but rain forced the Yankees and Tigers to do their hitting in the underground cages at Comerica Park.

"My concern was he said he felt better but he needed to run," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Gardy's pretty tough and Gardy's played through a lot, which made me believe that it's probably not 100 percent, which it might not be for a while.

"This extra day will probably do us some good. My concern is that he favors it or that he gets out there and he can't run, and then I've got to make a change. It can just really mess things up."

Yankees sending seven to Arizona Fall League

DETROIT -- Seven Yankees prospects have been added to the preliminary rosters for this year's Arizona Fall League, which were released on Tuesday.

Right-handers Caleb Cotham, Branden Pinder and Alex Smith, infielders Greg Bird and Eric Jagielo, and outfielders Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge have all been selected to play this fall with the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Four of the seven players are currently ranked among the club's Top 20 prospects, according to MLB.com: Jagielo (No. 3), Judge (No. 5), Bird (No. 11) and Austin (No. 15). Jagielo and Judge were first-round selections by the Yankees in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

In addition, the Yankees will be sending Class A Advanced Tampa hitting coach P.J. Pilittere to Scottsdale, where he will serve in the same capacity. There is also a roster spot reserved for a Yankees catcher to be announced.

Players from the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, Pirates and Giants organizations will comprise the Scorpions' roster, and the 32-game Arizona Fall League schedule begins on Oct. 7.

Kelley's horse head Yanks' good-luck charm

DETROIT -- The Yankees' newest good-luck charm arrived via special delivery, when Shawn Kelley's travels around the Internet led him to stumble across a frightening rubber horse head. He laughed, then forked over his credit card information.

Placing the horse head atop his uniform, Kelley surprised his teammates last Thursday by sprinting onto the outfield grass for stretch. The bulging eyeballs, the flaring nostrils and furry mane had the Yankees howling, and it all coincided with the start of a five-game winning streak.

"I just thought they were fun," Kelley said. "I just decided to wear it out for stretch that day, and we won that game, so -- you know baseball. I've got to wear it until we don't win anymore."

The purchase that might be helping to turn around the Yankees' season was under $20 plus shipping.

"You've seen those things for a while, popping up in the crowd somewhere," Kelley said. "I actually saw somebody one time on water skis with one on. I always laugh. I think it's funny when I see somebody with a horse head on. I giggle. I thought, 'You know what? I'm going to get one.' Just for fun."

Kelley said that the rubber mask, which the team is calling "Seabiscuit," can get very hot, and that the visibility leaves something to be desired.

"I can't see, that's the only thing," Kelley said. "I have to look out the nostrils and I can't see really good. I just heard everybody giggle. I need like a Go-Pro on it."

Bombers bits

• Masahiro Tanaka threw a bullpen session on Tuesday at Comerica Park in preparation for his simulated game on Thursday, the next checkpoint of his rehab progression. Tanaka is aiming to return to the big league mound in mid-to-late September.

• Mark Teixeira returned to the Yankees' lineup on Tuesday after sitting out Monday's game at Kansas City with tightness in his left hamstring.

"I think you're always going to watch it a little bit," Girardi said. "I think the day off probably helped, and we just tell him to play smart. I mean, he did play smart the couple of days that he had it, so he's just going to have to continue to do that."

• On this date in 1960, the Yankees hit five home runs in a 7-6 victory over the Indians, including Yogi Berra's 11th-inning blast off Bobby Locke to win it. It was Berra's second homer of the day; Elston Howard, Mickey Mantle and Moose Skowron also went deep.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jeter: 'I've always told people I'm from Michigan'

By Matt Slovin / MLB.com | 8/26/2014 7:15 P.M. ET

"This is where I grew up," said Derek Jeter about Michigan.

DETROIT -- On a fall Michigan afternoon in 1991, Derek Jeter stood wide-eyed amongst a crowd of greater than 100,000.

In Ann Arbor, at the Big House, Jeter realized there was somewhere else he could envision himself besides the infield dirt at the corner of East 161st and River Avenue in the Bronx. Perhaps at one of the parties he recalls visiting on that recruiting trip to the University of Michigan, he pictured himself as a Michigan Man -- and loved what he saw.

Boyhood dreams are limitless, though, and few have just one. Jeter, then 17, was no different. We all know which iteration of his dream he chose when the Yankees selected him with their sixth pick in the 1992 First-Year Player Draft.

Jeter is in Detroit this week to play his final regular-season series in his home state. Though the ballpark Jeter grew up visiting, like the one he grew up dreaming of playing in in New York, has been demolished within the past few years, visits to Detroit still have special meaning for him.

"I've always enjoyed coming here," Jeter said before Tuesday's game. "It brings back memories of … Tiger Stadium."

Jeter's ties to Michigan didn't end when he signed his pro contract with New York, and he never stopped considering himself a Wolverine. Though he didn't head to Ann Arbor to play for then-Michigan coach Bill Freehan as the plan had called for, he did enroll in the fall of 1992 and took a semester's worth of classes before turning his attention fully to his budding baseball career.

"You weigh pros and cons," Jeter said Tuesday of the decision he had to make. "You weigh the opportunity. … I wanted to get my career underway. This is the team that I wanted to play for. I think I made the right decision."

Jeter grew up in Kalamazoo, Mich., slightly over two hours due west of Detroit. Asked if he considers himself a Michigander, Jeter responded, "Of course."

"People ask where I'm from. I was born in New Jersey but I grew up in Michigan," Jeter said. "I've always told people I'm from Michigan."

The shortstop holds his home in such high regard that his least favorite memory of it didn't even occur in Michigan territory. Shockingly, it isn't either of New York's two American League Division Series losses to the Tigers since 2006.

Instead, it came in 1995, when he barely missed his first chance of playing in Detroit. Jeter was abruptly demoted to Triple-A right before the Yankees departed on the trip.

"There was a lot of family and friends that had to change their plans," Jeter said.

His best memory of baseball in Detroit might still be ahead of him. It could come before Wednesday's game, when he's honored in a pregame ceremony -- likely the first time Tigers fans will treat Jeter like one of their own.

"Sometimes, when I come here, I'm a sellout or I should be playing for the Tigers," Jeter said of Detroit fans' reaction to him over the years. "It wasn't my choice. I was drafted by the Yankees.

"[But] they have a respect, because this is where I grew up."

Matt Slovin is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gardner feeling better, but sits with bruised ankle

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 8/26/2014 6:53 P.M. ET

DETROIT -- Brett Gardner said Tuesday that his bruised right ankle is showing signs of improvement, and the Yankees outfielder is moving closer to returning to the lineup.

Gardner said that he expects to be in the Yankees' lineup on Wednesday, having run for the first time since he sustained the injury on a foul ball on Saturday against the White Sox.

"I don't have any idea how it's going to feel, but I know it feels a whole lot better than it did yesterday," Gardner said before Tuesday's 5-2 Yankees loss.

Gardner hit in the cages for a second consecutive day Tuesday, having also taken swings in Kansas City the night before. He had wanted to run the bases during batting practice Tuesday, but rain forced the Yankees and Tigers to do their hitting in the underground cages at Comerica Park.

"My concern was he said he felt better but he needed to run," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Gardy's pretty tough and Gardy's played through a lot, which made me believe that it's probably not 100 percent, which it might not be for a while.

"This extra day will probably do us some good. My concern is that he favors it or that he gets out there and he can't run, and then I've got to make a change. It can just really mess things up."

Jeter seeing more time as Yankees' DH

DETROIT -- Derek Jeter has been spending more time as the designated hitter of late, and while the retiring Yankees captain would prefer to be wearing his glove out to shortstop, he has been satisfied with staying in the lineup.

Tuesday marked Jeter's fourth DH assignment of August, coming after he had been asked to DH only four times in the first four months of the season. Jeter points out that though he hasn't done it much during his career, he did serve as the Yanks' DH 25 times in 2012.

"Because of injuries, Carlos [Beltran] had to DH, so I haven't really thought about it," Jeter said. "My job is to come here and when I'm in the lineup, play. I like to play every day. I like to play shortstop every day. Everyone is aware of that, but I get it.

"I understand it. We've had a long stretch here. I think we only have a couple of more days off, and then we have another long stretch at the end of the year."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that the lengthy stretches without an off-day, as well as upcoming matchups against left-handed pitching in which Jeter will be expected to play, factored into his thinking.

"We have a lot of lefties coming up the next five days after today, where he's going to play, so try to give him a little blow when I can," Girardi said. "And I thought today was probably a good day. Two plane flights in two days, and as I said, we have day games after night games, so we're going to need him in there a lot."

Jeter's numbers have sagged of late. After batting .277 through the first four months of the season, he entered play on Tuesday batting just .209 (18-for-86) in August, with a .227 on-base percentage and a .267 slugging percentage. Jeter's last extra-base hit was a double on Aug. 11.

Girardi said that he does not believe there are any physical concerns with Jeter, but suggested that Beltran's return to part-time outfield duty may allow the Yankees to have Jeter serve as the DH more often.

"I'm in the mode that I'm just taking it day by day, but with Carlos being able to go into the outfield once in a while, it gives me more flexibility to do this," Girardi said.

Yankees sending seven to Arizona Fall League

DETROIT -- Seven Yankees prospects have been added to the preliminary rosters for this year's Arizona Fall League, which were released on Tuesday.

Right-handers Caleb Cotham, Branden Pinder and Alex Smith, infielders Greg Bird and Eric Jagielo, and outfielders Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge have all been selected to play this fall with the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Four of the seven players are currently ranked among the club's Top 20 prospects, according to MLB.com: Jagielo (No. 3), Judge (No. 5), Bird (No. 11) and Austin (No. 15). Jagielo and Judge were first-round selections by the Yankees in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

In addition, the Yankees will be sending Class A Advanced Tampa hitting coach P.J. Pilittere to Scottsdale, where he will serve in the same capacity. There is also a roster spot reserved for a Yankees catcher to be announced.

Players from the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, Pirates and Giants organizations will comprise the Scorpions' roster, and the 32-game Arizona Fall League schedule begins on Oct. 7.

Kelley's horse head Yanks' good-luck charm

DETROIT -- The Yankees' newest good-luck charm arrived via special delivery, when Shawn Kelley's travels around the Internet led him to stumble across a frightening rubber horse head. He laughed, then forked over his credit card information.

Placing the horse head atop his uniform, Kelley surprised his teammates last Thursday by sprinting onto the outfield grass for stretch. The bulging eyeballs, the flaring nostrils and furry mane had the Yankees howling, and it all coincided with the start of a five-game winning streak.

"I just thought they were fun," Kelley said. "I just decided to wear it out for stretch that day, and we won that game, so -- you know baseball. I've got to wear it until we don't win anymore."

The purchase that might be helping to turn around the Yankees' season was under $20 plus shipping.

"You've seen those things for a while, popping up in the crowd somewhere," Kelley said. "I actually saw somebody one time on water skis with one on. I always laugh. I think it's funny when I see somebody with a horse head on. I giggle. I thought, 'You know what? I'm going to get one.' Just for fun."

Kelley said that the rubber mask, which the team is calling "Seabiscuit," can get very hot, and that the visibility leaves something to be desired.

"I can't see, that's the only thing," Kelley said. "I have to look out the nostrils and I can't see really good. I just heard everybody giggle. I need like a Go-Pro on it."

Bombers bits

• Masahiro Tanaka threw a bullpen session on Tuesday at Comerica Park in preparation for his simulated game on Thursday, the next checkpoint of his rehab progression. Tanaka is aiming to return to the big league mound in mid-to-late September.

• Mark Teixeira returned to the Yankees' lineup on Tuesday after sitting out Monday's game at Kansas City with tightness in his left hamstring.

"I think you're always going to watch it a little bit," Girardi said. "I think the day off probably helped, and we just tell him to play smart. I mean, he did play smart the couple of days that he had it, so he's just going to have to continue to do that."

• On this date in 1960, the Yankees hit five home runs in a 7-6 victory over the Indians, including Yogi Berra's 11th-inning blast off Bobby Locke to win it. It was Berra's second homer of the day; Elston Howard, Mickey Mantle and Moose Skowron also went deep.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Surprise hits make for inspiring stories

Written By limadu on Selasa, 26 Agustus 2014 | 14.25

One of the best parts of any baseball season is the surprise stories. Sometimes, it's the kids who burst onto the scene and do great things. Other times, it's the guys who've fought through all kinds of adversity, refused to give up and finally come out on the other side as big-time contributors on good teams.

Another thing that's part of any baseball season: Virtually every team that makes a nice postseason run gets at least a few contributions from places it never expected to get them.

Sometimes, it's the kids. Sometimes, it the comeback stories. But while good teams count on their stars performing at a high level, there's a reason general managers spend so much time sorting through reports and asking scouts the same question over and over.

"Can this guy help us?"

That's been true again this season, and as baseball sprints toward the September stretch run, there are surprising -- some inspiring -- stories here, there and everywhere.

Here's my fave five:

Chris Young, Mariners starter: There are sweet stories, and then there are stories that are almost too good to be true. That's what Young represents. His resume includes seven organizations, three surgical procedures and a relentless will to keep going when there seemed almost no reason to. He had a 7.88 ERA in seven Triple-A starts for the Nationals last season. He got his release after being told he wouldn't make the club in Spring Training. The Mariners needed a starter and believed he was healthy. He has been an absolute godsend, with 12 victories, 150 1/3 innings and a 3.17 ERA. He hasn't thrown a 90-mph fastball in years, but he's smart, aggressive, has pinpoint control and has an ability to change speeds and keep hitters off balance. "If he's not the Comeback Player of the Year, I don't know who could possibly be," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. Score one for the good guys.

Josh Harrison, Pirates utilityman: In three big league seasons before this one, he had 532 at-bats and a .250 batting average. The Pirates valued him because he can play every position. What they couldn't have known is that he would become one of their most valuable players this season. When manager Clint Hurdle began giving Harrison chances to play, he took advantage of them, starting games at five different positions. He was named to the National League All-Star team and is hitting .303.

Dellin Betances, Yankees reliever: Once upon a time, he was the undisputed star of the Bombers' farm system and tabbed a future anchor of the rotation. And then everything went wrong. Injuries. Poor performances. The Yankees placed him in the bullpen this season as something of a last resort. Now 26, Betances has become a star. The imposing 6-foot-8, 260-pound right-hander has been one of baseball's best relievers, compiling a 1.42 ERA in 57 appearances. In 76 innings, he has 20 walks and 113 strikeouts. He's pure power, with a 97-mph fastball and an 87-mph slider.

J.D. Martinez, Tigers outfielder: His season began with the Astros releasing him near the end of Spring Training. The Tigers signed him to a Minor League deal and summoned him to the big leagues in late April. He found a comfortable level in a lineup with Miguel Cabrera and Torii Hunter that he never had with Houston. His batting average has been above .300 virtually the entire season, and at 27, he's becoming almost exactly the player the Astros once thought he'd be.

Kole Calhoun, Angels outfielder: He began this season with 247 career at-bats in the big leagues, and this season, it figured to be another year in which he would fight for playing time and be shuttled back and forth between Los Angeles and Triple-A Salt Lake. Calhoun injured his right ankle in mid-April and returned five weeks later, and on May 25, he was hitting .205. But then he began to take advantage of every opportunity. He hit .346 in June and .287 in July. He began Monday hitting .318 this month. In a lineup with Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, etc., Calhoun has made his presence felt with 25 doubles, 13 home runs and a very nice .827 OPS.

Honorable mention: Jake Arrieta, Alfredo Simon, Collin Cowgill and Tanner Roark.

Richard Justice is a columnist for MLB.com. Read his blog, Justice4U. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yanks score run after challenge overturns call at plate

By Jackson Alexander / MLB.com | 8/25/2014 9:45 P.M. ET

KANSAS CITY -- The Yankees won a challenge and gained a run against the Royals on Monday night.

The final run of New York's four-run seventh came on a sacrifice fly by Brian McCann, but that's not initially how it was ruled.

With the Yankees leading, 5-1, and one out and runners on the corners, McCann skied a fly ball to right fielder Lorenzo Cain. Jacoby Ellsbury tagged from third, Cain fired home and home-plate umpire ruled that Royals catcher Salvador Perez tagged out Ellsbury for the third out.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi challenged, and replay officials in New York overturned the call.

Jackson Alexander is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Royals honor retiring Jeter with gift to foundation

By Jackson Alexander / MLB.com | 8/26/2014 12:19 A.M. ET

KANSAS CITY -- Most of the 31,758 in attendance at Kauffman Stadium for the Yankees' 8-1 win Monday night were still present even after the first out of the ninth inning was recorded.

It was an unusual sight with the home team trailing by seven runs, but those in attendance wanted one more opportunity to show appreciation for Derek Jeter in his final regular-season at-bat in Kansas City.

Jeter grounded out to shortstop, but The K sent him off with one final thunderous round of applause anyway as he jogged back to the dugout.

The round of applause even caught Jeter off-guard.

"Maybe a little, I don't ever expect it," said Jeter, who finished 1-for-5 with a pair of RBIs. "But the way fans have treated me pretty much everywhere we've gone this year has been pretty special. I don't expect them to do it, but those are the things I'll take away from each city that I've gone the last time. The fans have been awesome."

Kansas City paid tribute to the Yankees' legendary shortstop before the game.

Royals president Dan Glass and senior vice president of baseball operations and general manager Dayton Moore greeted Jeter between the mound and home plate 10 minutes before first pitch, and presented him with a $10,000 check as a donation to his Turn 2 Foundation.

The Royals also showed a commemorative video on its CrownVision HD scoreboard, featuring some of Jeter's career highlights and complimentary speeches from a number of Royals players.

Kansas City manager Ned Yost raved about the 20-year veteran, who plans on retiring after this season.

"For me, he's the consummate professional, he's the ultimate professional. He's a guy that plays the game to an extremely high degree. It seems to me that it's never changed who he was, he's never forgotten who he was, he's never forgotten where he came from, he's never forgotten this game is played to have fun," Yost said before the game.

Jeter started at shortstop in his 67th game at Kauffman Stadium, where he entered play having posted a .315/.369/.434 slash line in 318 plate appearances.

He received hearty applause in all five of his at-bats. As for the source of the applause, Jeter was split on that after the game.

"There were probably some Yankees fans cheering, maybe some Royals fans that have enjoyed booing me over the years, [and] they're happy to see me go," Jeter said with a laugh.

Jackson Alexander is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Robertson's saves streak thrown for a curve

Written By limadu on Senin, 25 Agustus 2014 | 14.24

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 8/24/2014 6:26 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Looking to nail down his 35th save on Sunday against the White Sox, closer David Robertson hung a first-pitch curveball to Avisail Garcia, who hammered it over the wall in right to tie the game at 4.

The home run snapped Robertson's streak of 22 straight save opportunities since June 5, marking the second longest streak in the Majors this season. Brian McCann would eventually ease the sting and bail out his closer in the 10th inning with a walk-off home run for a 7-4 victory.

"It's obviously a pitch I want back," said Robertson. "I tried to throw a curveball for a strike. I didn't mean to hang it as bad as I did. I didn't see that outcome coming, but you've got to be a little better with the first pitch.

"It's easier to shake that one off when you win, for sure. It's frustrating because I really wanted to help us out in the game and keep some guys from having to go in, but it all worked out tonight."

His third blown save of the season would have been unusual except for earlier in the week, when he entered into a tie game and surrendered a three-run blast to the Astros' Chris Carter on a 3-0 pitch. He followed that up with a scoreless inning in back-to-back games against the White Sox on Friday and Saturday.

"If he tells me he's OK, I'm going to use him," said manager Joe Girardi. "Now, I won't use him [Monday]. He'll be off for me [Monday] and somebody else will have to get the job done. As you get later in the season, Robbie has done it before, you do it a little bit."

On Friday, Robertson became the fastest Yankees pitcher in terms of innings to reach 500 strikeouts, but the closer seemed optimistic Sunday that the home runs won't bother his mindset.

"I threw one pitch that I wanted back," he said. "It happens. These guys are good. They're not paid to hit ground balls or pop up. They're paid to put them in the seats."

Banged-up Gardner, Ellsbury get some rest

NEW YORK -- Brett Gardner celebrated his 31st birthday with a lengthy visit to the trainers' room on Sunday, and the Yankees are not sure when the speedster will be able to return to the lineup.

Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury both started Sunday's game on the bench for injury-related reasons, but the team's concern is mostly with Gardner, who fouled a ball off of his right ankle during Saturday's 5-3 win over the White Sox.

"I woke up today and it wasn't feeling too good, so hopefully it'll be better tomorrow," Gardner said. "I'm hopeful, but I'm not confident, considering how it felt today. I'm hopeful that it feels better and I play tomorrow. We'll see."

X-rays were negative, but Gardner is having trouble walking and Girardi expressed doubt that Gardner would be available to play on Monday against the Royals. He added that Ellsbury has been "pretty beat up" physically, but Ellsbury is expected to play on Monday.

"This time of year, I think everybody has something going on, but I'll be ready to go," Ellsbury said.

After starting the game on the bench with White Sox left-hander Chris Sale on the mound, Ellsbury entered the game in the seventh inning as a defensive replacement, stroking a ninth-inning single and stealing a base.

"I knew I was probably coming in at some point in the game," Ellsbury said, following his club's 7-4 victory in 10 innings. "They've been trying to get me a day off for a while. It's just one of those days where I think they wanted to get as many righties in there as possible. I was ready to go from the start of the game if they needed."

Tanaka to throw another sim game Thursday

NEW YORK -- The next stop on Masahiro Tanaka's rehab road will be in the Motor City. The right-hander is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Thursday at Detroit's Comerica Park as he continues to work toward a September return to the big leagues.

Manager Joe Girardi said that Tanaka reported no issues after throwing 35 pitches in a simulated game off the mound at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

"I have not had any emergency meetings in my office. That's a great sign," Girardi said. "He feels good and he'll continue to move ahead. We'll do a simulated game on Thursday in Detroit and then after that, we'll see."

Tanaka has been attempting to avoid surgery after sustaining a partial tear of his right ulnar collateral ligament in a July 8 start against the Indians in Cleveland. Girardi said that he expects Tanaka will throw more than the 35 pitches he tossed on Saturday, but he could not provide an exact number.

If Tanaka is able to join the team in September, the Yankees could utilize a six-man rotation to accommodate him, a possibility that pitching coach Larry Rothschild first acknowledged to the New York Post last week. Rothschild said that such a move would be made not only with Tanaka in mind, but for the health of other pitchers as well.

"I don't know what we'll do," Girardi said. "Hopefully, I have that bridge to cross and then we'll look at it. We'll see how our starters are doing and what we think is important. Sometimes out of need you can't; if someone else gets nicked up, that sort of thing."

Bombers bits

• Right-hander David Phelps (right elbow inflammation) is continuing to play catch. He will remain in New York when the club goes on the road this week and will be evaluated after the trip.

• On this date in 1988, the Yankees trailed the Athletics, 6-2, heading to the bottom of the ninth inning in the Bronx. Seven singles and a three-run Ken Phelps homer later, the Yankees rallied for a 7-6 walk-off win. Rickey Henderson delivered the winning hit, driving in Luis Aguayo with a single to left field off Gene Nelson.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pineda faces Royals as Yanks return to KC

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OFFICIAL RULES

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ELIGIBILITY:  MLB.com Bingo (the "Promotion") is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and Washington, D.C. who are eighteen (18) years of age or older (except in the case of legal residents of certain states where the legal age of majority is greater than eighteen (18) years of age, such legal age of majority) at the time of entry. Employees, officers, and directors (including immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and members of the same household, whether or not related) of MLB Advanced Media, L.P. ("Sponsor"), the other MLB Entities and each of their respective parents, affiliated companies, subsidiaries, licensees, distributors, dealers, retailers, printers, advertising and promotion agencies, and any and all other companies associated with the Promotion are not eligible to participate or win a Prize (defined below). The "MLB Entities" shall mean Sponsor, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball ("BOC"), its Bureaus, Committees, Subcommittees and Councils, Major League Baseball Enterprises, Inc., Major League Baseball Properties, Inc., the Major League Baseball Clubs ("Clubs"), each of their parent, subsidiary, affiliated and related entities, any entity which, now or in the future, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Clubs or the BOC and the owners, general and limited partners, shareholders, directors, officers, employees and agents of the foregoing entities. The Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted by law, rule or regulation.

PROMOTION PERIOD: The Promotion period (the "Promotion Period") begins at 11:00 AM Eastern Time ("ET") on October 5, 2012 and ends upon completion of the final out of the 2012 MLB World Series Championship.

HOW TO ENTER: During the Promotion Period, you may enter the Promotion by clicking on the banners, buttons and/or links within MLB.com Gameday (a free application) and following the instructions provided to register for the Promotion. If you are not already a member of MLB.com, you must become one before you can register to participate in the Contest (membership is free). There is only one (1) way to participate in the Promotion: online. No other method of entry or participation will be accepted. Additional entries beyond the specified limit will be void. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means will be void. All information submitted online by entrants is subject to, and will be treated in a manner consistent with, MLB.com's Terms of Use accessible at: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb_com/terms_of_use.jsp and Privacy Policy accessible at: www.mlb.com/privacy.  All online entries must include a valid e-mail address for the entrant.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:  Upon successful registration, follow the instructions provided to receive one (1) virtual bingo card (the "Bingo Card") for each game of the 2012 MLB Postseason played during the Promotion Period (each, a "Postseason Game"). In addition, during the Promotion Period, participants may utilize sharing functionality available via the Promotion upon completion of a successful Contest (the "Sharing Functionality") to receive two (2) additional Bingo Cards. For each eligible individual any entrant notifies or makes aware of the Promotion who clicks on a valid link made available via the Sharing Functionality identifiable as having come from the entrant, such entrant shall receive two (2) additional Bingo Cards (for a total of three (3) Bingo Cards). No additional Bingo Cards will be received other than through verified Sharing Functionality. There is a limit of three (3) Bingo Cards per person and per e-mail address per Postseason Game. Each Bingo Card shall include a 5x5 grid that includes twenty-five (25) tiles (each, a "Tile"). Each Tile will include one (1) randomly selected game outcome for the active Postseason Game. For example, a participant could have a "Josh Hamilton Double" Tile on their Bingo Card which would be automatically marked in the event Josh Hamilton hits a double during a Postseason Game. Any eligible participant who receives a Bingo Card that becomes marked with five (5) Tiles in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row (each, a "Potential Winning Bingo Card") may be a potential Prize winner, subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with the terms of these Official Rules. (See the Prize Claim Section below for more information.) For purposes of this Promotion, MLB game outcomes will not be updated to reflect any official MLB statistics changes or corrections that may occur after the completion of any Postseason Game. Once each Postseason Game is final following completion of the final out of that game, it will be final for purposes of this Promotion. In the event any Postseason Game is cancelled, postponed or suspended, all Bingo Cards will be void for that game and Sponsor reserves the right to award the applicable Prizes by way of random drawing from among all eligible participants as of the time of such cancellation, postponement or suspension.

PRIZE CLAIMS: In the event you receive a message within MLB.com Gameday notifying you that you have a Potential Winning Bingo Card, you must claim your Potential Winning Bingo Card by following the onscreen instructions provided by no later than ten (10) minutes following the end of the applicable Postseason Game to be eligible for the Drawing (defined below). Failure to claim your Potential Winning Bingo Card within ten (10) minutes following the end of the applicable Postseason Game will render the Potential Winning Bingo Card void and result in Prize forfeiture.

ALL POTENTIAL WINNING BINGO CARDS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING. AN ENTRANT IS NOT A WINNER OF ANY PRIZE, EVEN IF THE PROMOTION SHOULD SO INDICATE, UNLESS AND UNTIL ENTRANT'S ELIGIBILITY, THE POTENTIAL WINNING BINGO CARD AND ENTRANT'S COMPLIANCE WITH THESE OFFICIAL RULES HAVE BEEN VERIFIED BY SPONSOR AND ENTRANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT SUCH VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE. SPONSOR WILL NOT ACCEPT SCREEN SHOTS OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF WINNING IN LIEU OF ITS VALIDATION PROCESS.

RANDOM DRAWINGS: Approximately thirty (30) minutes following the final out of each Postseason Game, five (5) potential winners will be selected by random drawing from among all eligible participants who claim valid Potential Winning Bingo Cards for that Postseason Game in accordance with these Official Rules (the "Drawing"). Subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with the terms of these Official Rules, the potential winners will be declared official winners of the Sweepstakes (each, a "Winner" and collectively, the "Winners"). Odds of winning a Prize will depend on the total number of Bingo Cards issued and the total number of valid Potential Winning Bingo Cards claimed for each applicable Postseason Game. Limit one (1) Prize per person, per family and per household.

PRIZES:  A maximum of two hundred fifteen (215) prizes (each, a "Prize" and collectively, the "Prizes") will be awarded (i.e. five (5) Prizes per each Postseason Game with a maximum of forty-three (43) Postseason Games), as follows:

For up to twenty-two (22) Postseason Games during the 2012 Wild Card Games and the 2012 Division Series, each Winner will receive one (1) Postseason.TV subscription for the remainder of the 2012 MLB Postseason. Approximate retail value ("ARV") of each such Prize: $4.99.

For up to twenty-one (21) Postseason Games during the 2012 League Championship Series and the 2012 MLB World Series Championship, each Winner will receive one (1) MLB.TV Offseason Package subscription. ARV of each such Prize: $24.99.

Total ARV of all Prizes: $3172.85.

For the avoidance of doubt, no Prizes will be awarded in connection with any 2012 MLB Postseason game that is not played because it is not necessary.

PRIZE CONDITIONS: All Prize details to be determined in the sole discretion of Sponsor. Each Winner is fully responsible for any and all applicable federal, state and local taxes (including income and withholding taxes). Postseason.TV subscriptions are subject to blackout and other restrictions - see www.postseason.tv for complete details. All costs and expenses associated with the Prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided including, but not limited to, any and all expenses incurred by accepting the Prize are the sole responsibility of the Winners. The Prizes are non-transferable and non-assignable, with no cash redemptions except at Sponsor's sole and absolute discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any Prize (or any portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value at its sole and absolute discretion.

NOTIFICATION:  Each potential winner will be notified at the e-mail address, postal address and/or telephone number (in the sole discretion of Sponsor) provided at the time of entry (the "Prize Notification"). In the event that any potential winner does not respond to any such Prize Notification within three (3) days of the date of issuance or declines the Prize for any reason, a disqualification will result, the Prize will be forfeited and, at Sponsor's sole discretion and time permitting, an alternate potential winner may be randomly selected from among all remaining eligible entries. Each potential winner may be required to submit his/her valid social security number and/or other identification to Sponsor and may be required to execute, have notarized and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release of Liability and, unless prohibited by law, Publicity, within five (5) days of date of issuance. Failure to submit any identification required by Sponsor or to return the required documents within the specified time period, noncompliance with these Official Rules or the return of the Prize (or any portion thereof) or Prize Notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and Prize forfeiture and, at Sponsor's sole discretion and time permitting, may cause an alternate potential winner to be randomly selected from among all remaining eligible entries.

WAIVER OF LIABILITY/PUBLICITY RELEASE:  By participating in the Promotion and submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to (i) be bound by these Official Rules, including all entry requirements, and (ii) waive any and all claims against Sponsor, the other MLB Entities, Facebook, Apple, Inc. and each of their respective parents, affiliated companies, subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, agents, licensees, distributors, dealers, retailers, printers, representatives and advertising and promotion agencies, and any and all other companies associated with the Promotion, and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, "Released Parties") for any injury, damage or loss that may occur, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from the participation in the Promotion or from the receipt or use of any Prize (or any portion thereof) or any travel or activity related to the receipt or use of any Prize (or any portion thereof). By entering this Promotion, each entrant gives his/her express permission to be contacted by Sponsor by telephone, e-mail and/or postal mail for Promotion purposes. Each Winner, by acceptance of the Prize, grants to Sponsor and each of its designees the right to publicize such Winner's name, address (city and state of residence), photograph, voice, statements and/or other likeness and prize information for advertising, promotional, trade and/or any other purpose in any media or format now known or hereafter devised, throughout the world, in perpetuity, without limitation and without further compensation, consideration, permission or notification, unless prohibited by law.

GENERAL CONDITIONS:  All decisions of Sponsor, including the determination of winners, are final and binding on all matters relating to this Promotion. Released Parties are not responsible for stolen, late, incomplete, illegible, inaccurate, misdirected, lost, misrouted, scrambled, damaged, delayed, undelivered, mutilated or garbled entries, transmissions, e-mail or mail; or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, cable, satellite, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), wireless network, website, or other connections including those through and/or by any website, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cable or wireless transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; any error, omission, interruption, defect or delay in transmission, processing, or communication; non-delivery; misdirected, blocked, or delayed e-mail notifications; printing, typographical or other errors appearing within these Official Rules, in any Promotion-related advertisements or other materials; or any other errors, problems or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, network, computer, telephone, mail, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Promotion, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Promotion, the processing of entries, the announcement of the Prize or in any Promotion-related materials, or the cancellation or postponement of any Major League Baseball game, event or exhibition. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Promotion. Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to participants' or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in this Promotion or downloading materials from or use of the website. Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Promotion or website or attempt to undermine the legitimate operation of the Promotion by cheating, deception or other unfair playing practices, or intend to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrant or any representative of Sponsor or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void. Any attempt to deliberately damage the content or operation of this Promotion is unlawful and subject to legal action by Sponsor and/or its agents. Sponsor shall have the sole right to disqualify any entrant for violation of these Official Rules or any applicable laws relating to the Promotion, and to resolve all disputes in its sole discretion. Released Parties (i) make no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind concerning any Prize (or any portion thereof), and (ii) disclaim any implied warranty. Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend the Promotion (or any portion thereof) should virus, bugs, unauthorized human intervention, or other causes corrupt administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper operation of the Promotion (or any portion thereof). In the event of such cancellation, Sponsor may elect to identify the Winners and award the Prizes by way of random drawing from among all non-suspect, eligible entries received up to the time of such cancellation. Sponsor also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these Official Rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Promotion.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT AN ENTRANT, TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROMOTION OR UNDERMINE THE CONTENT OR LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS PROMOTION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR WILL DISQUALIFY ANY SUCH ENTRANT, AND SPONSOR AND/OR ITS AGENTS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES) AND OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

In the event of dispute as to the identity or eligibility of any potential winner based on an e-mail address, the winning entry will be declared made by the "Authorized Account Holder" of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry provided he/she is eligible according to these Official Rules. The "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person to whom the applicable Internet service provider or other organization (such as a business or educational institution) has assigned the e-mail address for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

As a condition of participating in this Promotion, each entrant agrees that (A) any and all disputes, claims, controversies or causes of action arising out of or relating to this Promotion, or any prizes awarded (each, a "Claim"), shall be (1) arbitrated on an individual basis only, and shall not be consolidated or joined with or in any arbitration or other proceeding involving a Claim of any other party, and (2) settled by binding arbitration in New York County, New York before a single arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its then governing rules and procedures, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof; and (B) under no circumstance will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, consequential or any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses. These Official Rules shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, U.S.A, applicable to contracts entered into and performed exclusively in that State.

Apple, Inc. is not a sponsor of, or responsible for conducting, the Promotion. All entry data provided in connection with this Promotion is provided to Sponsor and not to Facebook. This Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

WINNERS' LIST:  For a list of winners (available after December 1, 2012) mail a request and a self-addressed stamped envelope to be received by January 15, 2012 to: MLB.com Bingo Winner's List c/o MLB Advanced Media, L.P., 75 Ninth Ave., New York, New York 10011, Attn: Sweepstakes Department.

SPONSOR: The Sponsor of this Promotion is MLB Advanced Media, L.P., 75 Ninth Ave., New York, New York 10011.

Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are proprietary to the MLB Entities. All rights reserved.


14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prado, McCarthy thriving in Bronx environment

NEW YORK -- If there was any perception that Martin Prado was more comfortable locked into one defensive position -- he played 99 games at third base for the D-backs this season -- that notion has been dispelled since his trade to the Yankees.

Prado has played right field, second base and on Sunday started in left field for the first time since 2013 as the Yankees defeated the White Sox, 7-4, at Yankee Stadium on a three-run, 10th-inning, pinch-hit homer off the bat of old friend Brian McCann. Prado and McCann were teammates for eight seasons with the Braves.

"I don't prefer any particular position," Prado said on Sunday. "I'm not a selfish player. I'd never say that. I'd be selfish if I preferred only one."

As the Yankees reshuffled their infield and starting rotation in July, adding Prado and Brandon McCarthy in separate deals with the D-backs, Chase Headley from the Padres and Stephen Drew from the Red Sox, manager Joe Girardi was placed in the precarious position of trying to utilize all these disparate parts.

Headley has been a big upgrade at third base and McCarthy has excelled in this environment. Drew, like Prado, has played out of position, having been used for the first time in his career at second base.

Girardi said he sat down with Prado after the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline deal and told him he'd be moved around defensively a lot. To that point, Prado has yet to play even a minute at third base, where he has started 409 games in his career.

"They talked to me about that the first day before I even stepped out on the field," Prado said. "I had this experience in the past with the Braves. It's not like I haven't done it. I mean, it doesn't matter to me. I know there are a lot of players. Having me and moving me around gives the team some options. As long as we're winning games, it doesn't matter where I'm playing."

Prado is red hot, just finishing a 4-2 homestand with 10 hits in 24 at bats, five runs scored, four doubles, a homer, and seven RBIs. His two-run homer and walk-off single in the ninth contributed to Friday night's victory over the White Sox. It was his first walk-off hit in almost three years.

The Yankees, who are battling for an American League Wild Card spot, swept the three-game series and need help right now from anywhere they can get it. Every game seems like the playoffs.

McCarthy started the current four-game winning streak with a shutout victory over the Astros at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. McCarthy loves playing for Girardi, who he says is "constantly walking around the clubhouse taking the temperature of the players."

Though McCarthy isn't big on personal pitching wins, he said that Arizona's 4-14 record in the 18 games he started with the D-backs this season was "embarrassing."

"If the team loses the game you started, you're still responsible for that game and that reflects poorly on you," McCarthy said. "That's what I was most disappointed in, not the personal side of it. We were losing the games I was starting."

McCarthy and Prado played in Arizona together for a better part of two seasons. McCarthy left the A's and joined the D-backs as a free agent just before Prado was acquired from the Braves in the big Jan. 24, 2013, trade that sent Justin Upton to Atlanta.

This season, the right-hander was 3-10 with a 5.10 ERA for Arizona, but is now 5-2 with a 1.90 ERA in eight starts since the July 6 trade to the Yanks.

The environmental change has made a big difference to both players, he said.

"We might have put too much pressure on ourselves and tried to always do too much," McCarthy said. "When you're struggling personally and the team's struggling, you double down. It's a quick way to go backwards. You get out of there and you come to a clubhouse like this where the pressure is not on you and there's other guys people look to. It just gives you that chance to play and breathe."

Prado looks around the Yankees clubhouse, sees Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, among others, and knows he's been part of this kind of club before. In Atlanta, Prado played for Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox and with perennial National League All-Stars McCann and Chipper Jones, another probable Hall of Famer. In contrast, the D-backs are a young team constantly being built and rebuilt around Paul Goldschmidt and Miguel Montero and a pitching staff that has mirrored the Yankees for catastrophic injuries.

Prado was supposed to be part of that core and the D-backs signed him to a four-year, $40 million extension a week after the trade with the Braves. This year, the season was lost in April after pitchers Patrick Corbin and David Hernandez suffered elbow injuries followed by Tommy John surgery. That skewed the starting rotation and the bullpen. The injuries continued to compound from there.

Prado's contract became an albatross and the D-backs were able to move him to the Yankees, who were so desperate for offensive and infield help they assumed the final two years of the deal worth $22 million.

"Was I surprised that they traded me? No," Prado said. "This is a game and a business. I wish right now I could tell you where I'll be next year. You don't know if somebody wants you and if the team is not doing well, they make a move. When I was there, it was a pretty rough first half. They had to make a move. I was one of the guys they didn't want to trade, but they traded me."

And then Prado added pragmatically:

"This is my present. I'm not thinking about my past or my future. I'm just taking it day by day. I'm not thinking about tomorrow. I'm just happy where I am right now."

Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Boomskie on Baseball. Follow @boomskie on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Move from No. 9 to No. 6 paid off for Torre

Written By limadu on Minggu, 24 Agustus 2014 | 14.25

NEW YORK -- Chances are Derek Jeter is No. 2 on your all-time personal roster and in your heart. Right? But, ya know, he could have been No. 6. He could have followed Dr. Bobby Brown, Andy Carey, Clete Boyer, Roy White, Ken Griffey Sr., Mike Pagliarulo, Jack Clark, other less notable players and some 1951 rookie named Mantle as a No. 6 for the Yankees.

But Joe Torre chose No. 6 for the back of his Yankees uniform when he was hired as manager after the 1995 season. It was the only available single-digit uniform number other than the number Jeter had been assigned when he arrived in the big leagues in May 1995.

"I don't remember if I was given a choice. … I think I was," Torre said Wednesday. "And I definitely wanted a single-digit [number]."

The new manager could have asked the kid shortstop to give up the number that has become the mark of The Captain. But Torre had a mindset that made No. 6 his No. 1 preference. Six is, of course, No. 9 inverted. And Torre had worn the inverted 6 as a player with the Cardinals and Mets, and as a manager with the Mets, Braves and Cardinals.

Moreover, he had worn No. 15 as a catcher with the Braves, and his No. 9 plus the No. 6 he requested as his Yankees number equal 15. But beyond that, his wife's grandmother urged him to implement the strategy she used when she played -- and lost -- at cards. "Get up and turn the chair around."

"I turned the number upside down," Torre said. And he went on a 12-year hot streak.

So now, No. 6 is Torre's Yankees identity. It is his primary baseball identity, though he won a National League Most Valuable Player Award and otherwise distinguished himself as No. 9. And now, following the No. 6 retirement ceremony at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, the Yankees will have no other players wearing the digit.

Nineteen players -- including Hall of Fame second basemen Tony Lazzeri and Joe Gordon -- had worn the Yankees' No. 6 before Torre opted for it. The most recent player to wear it before Torre was Tony Fernandez, in 1995. White wore No. 6 from 1969-79. Until Torre's final season in the Bronx, not one had worn it longer than White.

* * * * *

The reason No. 6 remained available after Lazzeri was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991 may have been lost forever with the passing of George Steinbrenner. Who knows? But now that 2009 inductee Gordon is in the Hall as well, the club might want to consider making 6 a shared and retired number. Yogi and Bill Dickey wore No. 8, and it is retired in honor of each.

* * * * *

Torre's No. 9 has been shoved into the shadows now.

"I liked [No.] 9, liked the single-digit," Torre said. "I was 15 when I came up. It was the catcher's number."

Indeed, before Torre took No. 15 as a rookie in 1960 with the Braves, it belonged to Stan Lopata, a catcher. Mickey Vernon, an outfielder-first baseman had worn it in '59, but catchers Hawk Taylor and Carl Sawatski wore it in '58.

Torre would have been pleased to wear 15 when he joined the Cardinals, but Tim McCarver, who would become one of Torre's closest friends, was the established No. 15 catcher. So Torre was given No. 9. Strangely McCarver had worn three other numbers before he took No. 15 -- 51 (15 reversed) as a rookie in 1959, 9 in '60, and 20 in '61

Torre was unaware of such numerical machinations, though he said he always had been fascinated by players' numbers.

"As kids, we knew all the numbers," Torre said Wednesday. "There were fewer teams and guys didn't change teams too much, so they became familiar. It stayed with me.

"Zim [Torre's bench coach with the Yankees, Don Zimmer] used to sit on the bench, and we'd quiz each other, especially about the old Dodgers -- No. 8, Shotgun Shuba. And I was a Giants fan."

* * * * *

Torre might have developed a numbers dilemma when he signed to manage the Braves after the 1981 season. He wanted No. 9 after wearing it for 13 seasons with the Cardinals and Mets.

"But," he said, "Ted [Braves then-owner Ted Turner] was trying to sign Reggie [Jackson] after he didn't re-sign with the Yankees. Reggie had worn No. 9 in Oakland [and for one year, 1975, with the Orioles]. So he might have wanted to go back. I figured he wasn't going to get 44 even if he wanted it because of [retired Braves legend Hank] Aaron.

"But you can't say for sure. Reggie might have gone to Hank and said 'Ya know, I could make that number really famous.'"

Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More
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