Holidays offer Betances time to reflect on a big 2014

MLB.com: What does the spirit of the holiday season mean to you?

Betances: For me, it's just any opportunity you get to give back to the community. I think that's special. I remember, as a little kid, I always looked forward to Christmas and opening some of those gifts. Now, I have to give a lot of the gifts out. It's always good to put smiles on these kids' faces.

MLB.com: What was Christmas like in your home growing up?

Betances: We always got together; our family always [got] together for Christmas Eve and we would wait until midnight to open the gifts up. The last couple of years, it has changed a little bit -- where we will just do it on Christmas Day. Usually, we do it on Christmas Eve at midnight.

MLB.com: You grew up in New York City. How would you describe what a Christmas in the city is like?

Betances: I've gone to see the big tree at Rockefeller Center before, obviously, they always put it up early. We've gone to see that. For me, it's just a joyful time [full of] happiness. You get together with family -- and for me, it's all about the kids being able to receive some of the gifts and just see the reaction they get when they open [them].

MLB.com: What kinds of things do you remember putting on your list as a kid?

Betances: I was always a big video-game guy. Anytime I got any video game -- or anything for that matter -- I was always excited for that. I'm a big sports guy, so I'd love to get "MLB: The Show;" before that, it was "MVP Baseball." I remember asking for "Mortal Kombat" and "Street Fighter" when I was younger. Those games would excite me. ... I always liked opening a box of shoes. I remember my father used to get me Air Jordans or Vince Carters. Things like that were always exciting to open up.

MLB.com: How about a meaningful gift that you gave? Is there one that sticks out in your mind?

Betances: Well, last year I got engaged on Christmas (to Janisa; they were married on Nov. 29). That's a pretty good gift. That's one that I would remember. It was just about getting the family together for her and doing it in front of everybody. I thought it was a good idea to do it in front of her family, and she loved it.

MLB.com: What's on your TV around the holidays? Is there a favorite movie or special that you always watch?

Betances: "Home Alone II," the one that is in Central Park. It'll be on TV, and I'll always watch it. I just like all the parts where [Kevin McCallister is] playing tricks with the guys and stuff. The part at the end with all the pigeons and he's running around with the two bad guys; that's my favorite part.

MLB.com: How has your view of the holidays changed from when you were a kid?

Betances: For me, it's just about coming here to some of these communities and giving out gifts myself. When I was younger, I always was on the receiving end and loved opening gifts. But now, I'm the one that's giving back. I love this. I love putting smiles on some of these kids' faces.

MLB.com: Now that 2014 is almost complete, have you taken a step back to appreciate this year on a personal level?

Betances: Definitely, I think it opened up opportunities. I think that having the year I've had, I've gotten to do more stuff -- and at the end of the day, that's the best part of it. I'm living every kid's dream. Growing up a Yankees fan and playing for them, they're the best team and the best franchise for me. I'm definitely excited to be wearing pinstripes.

MLB.com: Pitchers and catchers will be here before you know it. What do you hope that Santa leaves under the tree for the Yankees next year?

Betances: For us, it's about being healthy. I think if we get all the guys that were hurt last year, I think we'll be all right. I believe in our team. It's getting back to the playoffs, but it's always winning the World Series. I want to know what it feels like to win a World Series.

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

Penn State, Boston College ready to rumble in the Bronx

Penn State played to a 6-6 record in the ultra-competitive Big Ten conference, and Boston College went 7-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a core that included several players who have already graduated. Now, they'll be looking for a victory that can springboard their team to next season.

Tyler Murphy, BC's quarterback, said both teams know what kind of game they can expect.

"It's going to be a roller-coaster type game," said Murphy. "One round, we might have the momentum, and the next round, they might have it. We just have to make sure we hold our ground and keep fighting and get the game to the fourth quarter, where we feel like we have a good chance of winning."

Penn State leads the all-time series against Boston College by a 19-4 margin, but the two teams have never met in a bowl game. BC has won the last three meetings, but the most recent was a decade ago, and much has changed for both programs in the interim.

BC is in a new conference, and it graduated its all-time leading receiver (Alex Amidon) and rusher (Andre Williams) last season. Murphy stepped into the void this season, playing behind a veteran offensive line that features five graduated players. Murphy threw for 1,526 yards and ran for 1,079 more this season, and Penn State is quite clear on who it has to stop to win in the Pinstripe Bowl.

"Obviously, they're a team that prides themselves on being able to run the football," said Bob Shoop, Penn State's defensive coordinator. "They've got a very experienced and solid offensive line. Tyler Murphy has played exceptionally well. He's playing with so much confidence. He makes plays with both his arm and his feet. They've got two or three good running backs, and they've got a group of wide receivers and tight ends -- although they don't catch a lot of passes -- when the ball is thrown to them, they make plays and they know their job within the framework of the offense. They're a bit unorthodox."

BC might be unorthodox, but it's absolutely not untested. The Eagles beat No. 9 USC early in the season and later lost a close game (17-13) to No. 24 Clemson. Then, last month, BC gave No. 1 Florida State one of its toughest games this season before falling in a narrow loss (20-17) on the road.

"We were able to walk away with a lot of confidence. But we were very confident before that game," said Murphy of the FSU game. "We felt like we were going to be the team that knocks them off. We expected to win that game and we had a game plan that we stuck to. We always say, 'Get to the fourth quarter and win it there.' We had our opportunities in the fourth quarter and we just didn't make them."

Penn State, meanwhile, won its first four games this season but will come into the Pinstripe Bowl with losses in six of their last eight. The Nittany Lions' toughest game came in a 31-24 loss to Ohio State in overtime, and Penn State also lost to a ranked Michigan State team by a 34-10 score.

Penn State has a sophomore quarterback and four freshman receivers, but it's been fairly productive on offense. The difference maker, for this team, has been on defense. Penn State ranks second nationally on defense, and senior linebacker Mike Hull was named a second-team All-American.

Hull will be playing his final game, and he said it's all been a blur.

"It felt like it would never come," said Hull of his final college game. "I never want it to end. I want to play for as long as I'm able. It really hasn't hit me yet that this will be my last time out there."

The senior made his first trip to New York City this week, and he remarked that it's "definitely different than Pittsburgh," when asked for his impression of the city. Shoop, who coached at Columbia, said he was thrilled to be in the city and that his team has enjoyed the Yankee Stadium experience.

"I'm from Pittsburgh, so I'm a Pirates fan. And my wife's from Boston. She's a Red Sox fan," said Shoop of his allegiances away from the football field. "I've been to a lot of stadiums and watched a lot of games, but to play a game in Yankee Stadium is special with its tradition and history. And not just as a baseball venue, but it's a venue that has hosted NFL championship games and heavyweight boxing matches and some of the greatest concerts in history. It's really a neat opportunity."

This is the fifth edition of the Pinstripe Bowl, which was won by Notre Dame over Rutgers last season. Syracuse -- twice -- and Rutgers are the other teams that have won in prior seasons. Boston College would love to be the next team on that list, but it knows that Penn State will provide a stern test.

"They have a very balanced attack," said BC defensive coordinator Don Brown. "They have two excellent wide receivers, the tight end is a good player, and they have a stable of backs they share the wealth with.

"We have 15 guys with sacks. That tells you a little something right there about us. We're a heavy pressure team and we'll come with all 11 guys. We kind of share the wealth in that department. ... We're kind of the no-name bunch, but the thing we do well is fit the run game well with all 11 guys."

Spencer Fordin 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

Picture-perfect end to Jeter era capped Yanks' 2014

Alas, the Yankees were absent from postseason play for a second consecutive year, notching 84 victories and finishing second in the American League East.

Before we turn the calendar ahead to the new year, this is a good time to take a look back at the top five Yankees storylines of 2014 -- what went right, what went wrong, and what might be around the corner.

5. Surpassing Sandman

Embracing newfound freedom in his first year of retirement, Mariano Rivera occasionally made afternoon visits to the home clubhouse at Yankee Stadium, and the all-time saves leader was proud to see how smoothly the torch of his bullpen was passed.

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner identified David Robertson as the closer in January, and after proving himself as an elite setup man under Rivera, Robertson showed little difficulty in meeting the ninth-inning challenge.

Robertson converted 39 of 44 save opportunities with a 3.08 ERA in his first season as a full-time closer, holding opponents to a .192 batting average and averaging 13.43 strikeouts per nine innings. Yet even more impressive was Dellin Betances, who pitched his way onto the Opening Day roster with a stellar spring and never stopped dominating hitters.

Named to the All-Star team, Betances posted a 1.40 ERA in 70 appearances and shattered Rivera's 1996 franchise record for strikeouts by a reliever, fanning 135 men in 90 innings. Betances' U-turn from floundering prospect to standout setup man swayed the Yanks to cut ties with Robertson, who scored a four-year, $46 million deal with the White Sox. Whether it's as the closer or in a setup role, the Yankees are counting on Betances for more big outs in 2015.

Betances' milestone strikeout

NYY@TB: Betances sets Yankees' K mark for reliever

9/17/14: Dellin Betances strikes out Kevin Kiermaier to set the Yankees' franchise mark with 131 strikeouts by a reliever in a season

4. Fixing it on the fly

For a second consecutive year, the Yankees could have benefited from installing a revolving door at the entrance of their clubhouse, where a total of 58 players were asked to suit up -- a franchise record, breaking the 2013 record of 56.

From early on, general manager Brian Cashman's objective was to pull the trigger on incremental upgrades. As a result, the roster that the Yankees fielded in August and September appeared markedly different from the one that came north from Spring Training in April.

Nowhere was the shuffling more apparent than in the rotation. The Yanks had four of their five Opening Day starters land on the disabled list -- only 39-year-old Hiroki Kuroda stayed healthy for the entire season -- and used a total of 13 starters, including Brandon McCarthy, who parlayed 14 outings in pinstripes into a $48 million deal with the Dodgers.

3. Hal bets big on free agent bats

2014 Year in Review

The Steinbrenners went back to their 2008-09 playbook in retooling a roster that did not qualify for postseason play, wasting little time stealing the early Hot Stove headlines. Brian McCann arrived first, inking a five-year, $85 million deal, and the Yankees had a legitimate offer on the table to re-sign Robinson Cano.

Instead, Cano jumped to the Mariners for a larger 10-year, $240 million pact, leaving the Yankees with enough cash to splurge on Jacoby Ellsbury (seven years, $153 million) and Carlos Beltran (three years, $45 million).

Ellsbury gave the Yanks pretty much what they expected, ringing up his most games (149), home runs (16) and RBIs (70) since 2011. Even though he seemed miscast for a great deal of the year as a No. 3 hitter, Ellsbury led the team in hits (156), doubles (27) and steals (39).

McCann seemed to have trouble adjusting to New York and had a first half that he described as "horrible," but seemed to be a different player after the All-Star break, including an 11-game hitting streak in July and a September in which he slugged eight homers with 18 RBIs.

Very little went right for Beltran, who had patiently waited nearly a decade for his chance to play in pinstripes but saw his season wrecked by injuries, particularly a bone spur in his right elbow that required surgery after the season.

2. Masahiro Tanaka arrives, dominates

The otherworldly numbers popped off the page: a perfect 24-0 record and sparkling 1.27 ERA with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan, soon to be joined by some other impressive figures -- seven years and $175 million, including a $20 million posting fee payable to Rakuten.

From the first nasty splitters that dropped McCann and Francisco Cervelli to their knees in Tampa, Fla., it was apparent that the Yankees had invested in something special. Big league hitters soon agreed, as Tanaka quickly emerged as the Yanks' most dominant starter, going 12-3 with a 2.27 ERA in his first 17 outings.

The storyline changed, perhaps forever, on the evening of July 8 in Cleveland. Tanaka didn't look right, allowing five runs and 10 hits to the Indians, and was sent back to New York. An MRI taken there revealed a partial tear of Tanaka's right ulnar collateral ligament.

The Yankees accepted the chance of imminent Tommy John surgery, but four specialists agreed that rehab was the proper route. Tanaka returned for two September starts and went home to Japan as a healthy player in the Yanks' eyes, and they hope that Tanaka can follow Chris Carpenter's model of being successful even after a UCL tear.

Girardi on Tanaka's season

Girardi talks about Tanaka's rookie season

9/29/14: Yankees manager Joe Girardi discusses Masahiro Tanaka's rookie campaign, as well as expectations for next season

1. Farewell, Captain

The plaudits started almost instantly on the morning of Feb. 12, when Jeter gave his final approval to the Facebook post that he'd spent the previous evening crafting. The countdown was on to the final game of Jeter's illustrious career.

As with Rivera in 2013, Jeter was lauded in each of the Yanks' road stops, waving his cap and accepting gifts in pregame ceremonies that he never seemed completely comfortable with. As he'd later remark, it almost felt like attending his own funeral, but he tried to enjoy the kind words as much as possible.

It was an emotional season for Jeter, coming back from an injury-ruined 2013 in which he'd played just 13 games, and even more so for the fans. The numbers paled in comparison to some of Jeter's elite dynasty years, but Girardi resisted the outside cries to drop him from the No. 2 spot in the batting order. His rationale was that Jeter had done it before and would do it again.

So Jeter scripted one last improbable, perfect moment on Sept. 25, a couple of innings after blinking away tears at shortstop and praying that the ball wouldn't be hit to him. Jeter was content with the story to that point, but Robertson coughed up a late lead and Jeter was nudged to the plate for one more Stadium at-bat.

Jeter on home finale

Jeter reminisces on his last home game

Derek Jeter reflects on his emotional home finale at Yankee stadium

With a sellout crowd roaring and his parents, Charles and Dorothy, watching from the front row, Jeter flicked his wrists at an Evan Meek fastball and laced an opposite-field single to right field, sending pinch-runner Antoan Richardson home from second base with the game-winning run.

Sterling calls Jeter's walk-off

BAL@NYY: Sterling calls Jeter's memorable walk-off

9/25/14: WFAN's John Sterling calls Derek Jeter's memorable walk-off single in Jeter's last game ever at Yankee Stadium

Three days later, Jeter completed his career with an infield single at Fenway Park, calling for a pinch-runner after legging out a chopper to third base. He retired with a .310 average and 3,465 hits, good for sixth place on the all-time list, plus five World Series championship rings. Enshrinement in Monument Park and the Hall of Fame are surely next to come.

Jeter's final at-bat

NYY@BOS: Jeter exits to ovation after final at-bat

9/28/14: Derek Jeter exits to an ovation at Fenway Park after hitting an RBI single in the final at-bat of his Major League career

"This is all I've ever wanted to do, and not too many people get the opportunity to do it," Jeter said. "It was above and beyond anything that I've ever dreamt of. I've lived a dream since I was 4 or 5 years old, and part of that dream is over now."

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

Holidays offer Betances time to reflect on a big 2014

MLB.com: What does the spirit of the holiday season mean to you?

Betances: For me, it's just any opportunity you get to give back to the community. I think that's special. I remember, as a little kid, I always looked forward to Christmas and opening some of those gifts. Now, I have to give a lot of the gifts out. It's always good to put smiles on these kids' faces.

MLB.com: What was Christmas like in your home growing up?

Betances: We always got together; our family always [got] together for Christmas Eve and we would wait until midnight to open the gifts up. The last couple of years, it has changed a little bit -- where we will just do it on Christmas Day. Usually, we do it on Christmas Eve at midnight.

MLB.com: You grew up in New York City. How would you describe what a Christmas in the city is like?

Betances: I've gone to see the big tree at Rockefeller Center before, obviously, they always put it up early. We've gone to see that. For me, it's just a joyful time [full of] happiness. You get together with family -- and for me, it's all about the kids being able to receive some of the gifts and just see the reaction they get when they open [them].

MLB.com: What kinds of things do you remember putting on your list as a kid?

Betances: I was always a big video-game guy. Anytime I got any video game -- or anything for that matter -- I was always excited for that. I'm a big sports guy, so I'd love to get "MLB: The Show;" before that, it was "MVP Baseball." I remember asking for "Mortal Kombat" and "Street Fighter" when I was younger. Those games would excite me. ... I always liked opening a box of shoes. I remember my father used to get me Air Jordans or Vince Carters. Things like that were always exciting to open up.

MLB.com: How about a meaningful gift that you gave? Is there one that sticks out in your mind?

Betances: Well, last year I got engaged on Christmas (to Janisa; they were married on Nov. 29). That's a pretty good gift. That's one that I would remember. It was just about getting the family together for her and doing it in front of everybody. I thought it was a good idea to do it in front of her family, and she loved it.

MLB.com: What's on your TV around the holidays? Is there a favorite movie or special that you always watch?

Betances: "Home Alone II," the one that is in Central Park. It'll be on TV, and I'll always watch it. I just like all the parts where [Kevin McCallister is] playing tricks with the guys and stuff. The part at the end with all the pigeons and he's running around with the two bad guys; that's my favorite part.

MLB.com: How has your view of the holidays changed from when you were a kid?

Betances: For me, it's just about coming here to some of these communities and giving out gifts myself. When I was younger, I always was on the receiving end and loved opening gifts. But now, I'm the one that's giving back. I love this. I love putting smiles on some of these kids' faces.

MLB.com: Now that 2014 is almost complete, have you taken a step back to appreciate this year on a personal level?

Betances: Definitely, I think it opened up opportunities. I think that having the year I've had, I've gotten to do more stuff -- and at the end of the day, that's the best part of it. I'm living every kid's dream. Growing up a Yankees fan and playing for them, they're the best team and the best franchise for me. I'm definitely excited to be wearing pinstripes.

MLB.com: Pitchers and catchers will be here before you know it. What do you hope that Santa leaves under the tree for the Yankees next year?

Betances: For us, it's about being healthy. I think if we get all the guys that were hurt last year, I think we'll be all right. I believe in our team. It's getting back to the playoffs, but it's always winning the World Series. I want to know what it feels like to win a World Series.

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

Inbox: How will Eovaldi fare in AL?

Eovaldi gave the Marlins innings (199 2/3) but just 142 strikeouts, so he needs to improve on missing bats, especially now that he will be working in Yankee Stadium. On the positive front: the Yanks' number-crunchers didn't miss the fact that Eovaldi's FIP (fielding independent pitching) was 3.37, which looks a whole lot sharper than his 4.37 ERA. Could the Marlins' defense have been to blame for some of those hits? Perhaps, so working in front of Chase Headley and Didi Gregorius on the left side should be a plus.

Observers have said that Eovaldi must learn to pitch inside more and stop leaving his offerings over the middle of the plate. That'll be a project for pitching coach Larry Rothschild this spring, but the Yanks believe Eovaldi's potential ceiling is worth the gamble. When his slider and curve are working, he's tough, and the Yanks need to make that a regular thing.

Click here to submit an Inbox question.

"He's got a great gift, no doubt about that," Brian Cashman said last week. "It's just about trying to harness that gift into consistent success."

Why are we hearing nothing about Max Scherzer? Are the Yankees a dark horse to sign him?
-- John P., via Twitter

You never want to say never with this team and a big free-agent prize, but at the moment there's no smoke connecting Scherzer and the Yankees. Cashman and team president Randy Levine have both strongly indicated that Scherzer's expected market -- potentially in excess of $200 million -- is going to be too rich for the Yanks to get involved.

"The chances of us bringing in a guy for six [years] and $25 million or over, in my opinion, is virtually none," Levine said last week. Cashman went a step further, telling NBC that "I don't think Yankee fans will be looking at Max Scherzer."

Boras on Scherzer's value

Boras discusses Scherzer's value as the ace of a team

Scott Boras explains why his client Max Scherzer is such a dominant pitcher and what he offers a team as the ace of the rotation

Could that just be posturing, setting up the Yankees to make a late run at Scott Boras with fistfuls of cash? Some would like to believe that, but Jack Curry of the YES Network traced the dollars to provide a good point -- because of luxury tax penalties, a $28 million annual salary to Scherzer would be more like a $42 million dent in the team's bottom line. Even for the Yankees, that's a number that has to make them swallow hard.

With Headley and now Garrett Jones in the fold, is Alex Rodriguez just a part-time DH?
-- Ty B., Madison, Wis.

The Yankees' actions in the last few weeks have given muscle to the idea that they are not going into 2015 counting on production from A-Rod. For a variety of reasons -- last year's suspension, his age, the two bad hips -- whatever they can squeeze out of Rodriguez seems to be viewed as a bonus. He's the great unknown going into '15.

It's still likely that Rodriguez will grab a glove in the spring and play some third base as a backup for Headley, but the Yanks figure to give Jose Pirela time there, too. Rodriguez should also take some reps at first base, though Jones is now second on the depth chart there behind Mark Teixeira.

Where does that leave Rodriguez? For the moment, he could be in a platoon for DH at-bats with Jones, and the Yanks are going to send Jones' left-handed power up against righties at Yankee Stadium. While A-Rod was productive against righties during his short season in 2013, he hit just .200 (10-for-50) with a .585 OPS against lefties.

If the Yankees do not sign a second baseman like Asdrubal Cabrera, could you see both Rob Refsnyder and Pirela making the roster?
-- Mike B., Bayside, N.Y.

Assuming the Yankees plan to start the year with a 12-man pitching staff, there aren't any injuries and A-Rod is on the roster, they'd probably have to pick one or the other. They've got some pretty solid roster locks for the bench in Jones, John Ryan Murphy, Brendan Ryan and Chris Young, plus Rodriguez.

This reminds me of those weeks in December 2005 when Bubba Crosby was supposedly in line to be the starting center fielder. The Yankees were talking in September about how Refsnyder should get a crack at the starting second-base job in '15, and that's definitely on the table right now, though it doesn't seem to be an absolute lock. Pirela provides more versatility and could get a spring look at multiple positions.

"It's a competition right now that exists on the current roster, and I'll evaluate any other opportunities that legitimately present themselves," Cashman said last week. "But clearly if Spring Training started today, that would be the competition."

That wasn't exactly a slam-dunk endorsement. It was around this time last year that the Yankees gave $2 million to Brian Roberts, and there are a couple of free agents who fit the mold of looking for a bounce-back deal -- Cabrera, who has fallen quite a bit from his All-Star days with the Indians, and Stephen Drew, who would be open to returning as a second baseman.

What is the Yankees' plan to hire Kevin Long's replacement? We have not heard much on the club's plans to hire a new hitting coach since early November.
-- Remy C., Chicago

After that initial round of interviews, the Yankees hit the pause button on their searches to replace Long and first-base coach Mick Kelleher, preferring instead to focus on the moves they needed to make in the free agent and trade markets. With a lot of that activity now complete, we can expect to see the Yanks make some progress on the coaching front soon.

The New York Post reported on Monday that Jeff Pentland has been internally discussed as a candidate; Pentland was the Marlins' hitting coordinator last season and has a connection to Joe Girardi. James Rowson, who served as the Yanks' hitting coordinator in 2014, has interviewed and is still thought to be in the mix. Once they hire a hitting coach, they'll decide if they also want to bring in an assistant.

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

Penn State, Boston College ready to rumble in the Bronx

Penn State played to a 6-6 record in the ultra-competitive Big Ten conference, and Boston College went 7-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a core that included several players who have already graduated. Now, they'll be looking for a victory that can springboard their team to next season.

Tyler Murphy, BC's quarterback, said both teams know what kind of game they can expect.

"It's going to be a roller-coaster type game," said Murphy. "One round, we might have the momentum, and the next round, they might have it. We just have to make sure we hold our ground and keep fighting and get the game to the fourth quarter, where we feel like we have a good chance of winning."

Penn State leads the all-time series against Boston College by a 19-4 margin, but the two teams have never met in a bowl game. BC has won the last three meetings, but the most recent was a decade ago, and much has changed for both programs in the interim.

BC is in a new conference, and it graduated its all-time leading receiver (Alex Amidon) and rusher (Andre Williams) last season. Murphy stepped into the void this season, playing behind a veteran offensive line that features five graduated players. Murphy threw for 1,526 yards and ran for 1,079 more this season, and Penn State is quite clear on who it has to stop to win in the Pinstripe Bowl.

"Obviously, they're a team that prides themselves on being able to run the football," said Bob Shoop, Penn State's defensive coordinator. "They've got a very experienced and solid offensive line. Tyler Murphy has played exceptionally well. He's playing with so much confidence. He makes plays with both his arm and his feet. They've got two or three good running backs, and they've got a group of wide receivers and tight ends -- although they don't catch a lot of passes -- when the ball is thrown to them, they make plays and they know their job within the framework of the offense. They're a bit unorthodox."

BC might be unorthodox, but it's absolutely not untested. The Eagles beat No. 9 USC early in the season and later lost a close game (17-13) to No. 24 Clemson. Then, last month, BC gave No. 1 Florida State one of its toughest games this season before falling in a narrow loss (20-17) on the road.

"We were able to walk away with a lot of confidence. But we were very confident before that game," said Murphy of the FSU game. "We felt like we were going to be the team that knocks them off. We expected to win that game and we had a game plan that we stuck to. We always say, 'Get to the fourth quarter and win it there.' We had our opportunities in the fourth quarter and we just didn't make them."

Penn State, meanwhile, won its first four games this season but will come into the Pinstripe Bowl with losses in six of their last eight. The Nittany Lions' toughest game came in a 31-24 loss to Ohio State in overtime, and Penn State also lost to a ranked Michigan State team by a 34-10 score.

Penn State has a sophomore quarterback and four freshman receivers, but it's been fairly productive on offense. The difference maker, for this team, has been on defense. Penn State ranks second nationally on defense, and senior linebacker Mike Hull was named a second-team All-American.

Hull will be playing his final game, and he said it's all been a blur.

"It felt like it would never come," said Hull of his final college game. "I never want it to end. I want to play for as long as I'm able. It really hasn't hit me yet that this will be my last time out there."

The senior made his first trip to New York City this week, and he remarked that it's "definitely different than Pittsburgh," when asked for his impression of the city. Shoop, who coached at Columbia, said he was thrilled to be in the city and that his team has enjoyed the Yankee Stadium experience.

"I'm from Pittsburgh, so I'm a Pirates fan. And my wife's from Boston. She's a Red Sox fan," said Shoop of his allegiances away from the football field. "I've been to a lot of stadiums and watched a lot of games, but to play a game in Yankee Stadium is special with its tradition and history. And not just as a baseball venue, but it's a venue that has hosted NFL championship games and heavyweight boxing matches and some of the greatest concerts in history. It's really a neat opportunity."

This is the fifth edition of the Pinstripe Bowl, which was won by Notre Dame over Rutgers last season. Syracuse -- twice -- and Rutgers are the other teams that have won in prior seasons. Boston College would love to be the next team on that list, but it knows that Penn State will provide a stern test.

"They have a very balanced attack," said BC defensive coordinator Don Brown. "They have two excellent wide receivers, the tight end is a good player, and they have a stable of backs they share the wealth with.

"We have 15 guys with sacks. That tells you a little something right there about us. We're a heavy pressure team and we'll come with all 11 guys. We kind of share the wealth in that department. ... We're kind of the no-name bunch, but the thing we do well is fit the run game well with all 11 guys."

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

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cashman pushes Yankees forward with youth movement

He remains focused on keeping the Yankees competitive. At the same time, he has started something of a transition at a time when his farm system appears to be stronger than it has been in years.

The Yankees still won't qualify as a young team. They'll still be counting on some older players, but not nearly as many as in recent years when Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte were part of the core.

At the moment, just three of the Yankees' projected nine everyday players -- Mark Teixeira (34), Carlos Beltran (37) and Alex Rodriguez (39) -- are older than 31. Meanwhile, CC Sabathia (34) and Chris Capuano (36) could be the only starting pitchers older than 31.

This focus on getting younger was driven home last week when Cashman made a trade with the Marlins in which he sent infielder Martin Prado and right-hander David Phelps to South Florida for right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, first baseman Garrett Jones and Minor League pitcher Domingo German.

That trade did two significant things for the 2015 Yankees, at least for now. One is that it sent their projected 31-year-old starting second baseman (Prado) to Miami and opened the door for two kids to compete for the job.

Pirela's first career hit

BAL@NYY: Pirela records first hit with an RBI triple

9/22/14: Jose Pirela triples to score Ichiro Suzuki and open the scoring in the 3rd, recording his first career hit

Jose Pirela is 25 years old and Rob Refsnyder is 23. Pirela has 25 Major League plate appearances, Refsnyder zero. But the Yankees like both of them and think both have a chance to be long-term contributors.

Pirela has climbed steadily through the system since being signed in Venezuela when he was 17. He has a .785 OPS in 135 career Triple-A games.

That number doesn't indicate he's going to be a star -- or that he'll even make it -- but so many kids younger than him have made it the last three years that baseball people have changed the way they look at timetables.

They've gradually come to believe that if a player has the talent to play in the big leagues, he'll survive being challenged along the way.

Refsnyder, a fifth-round pick out of Arizona in 2012, has flown through the system, reaching Triple-A last summer. He has an .833 OPS in 313 Minor League games and an .845 OPS in 77 Triple-A games.

Prospect Watch: Robert Refsnyder

Prospect Watch: Robert Refsnyder

Second base prospect Robert Refsnyder has surged onto the scene in 2014, putting up great numbers in AA and AAA

He's a converted outfielder who isn't yet polished at second base, but it was his bat that got him drafted, and it will be his bat that gets him to the big leagues. Whether that's at second or some other spot remains to be seen.

Even as Cashman pursued Chase Headley to return at third, he told reporters that shifting Prado from second to third and allowing Refsnyder and Pirela to compete for the second-base job remained an option.

Then last week after Cashman signed Headley, he also acquired Eovaldi, 24, and his 96-mph fastball from the Marlins. Eovaldi hasn't yet harnessed all that power, but Cashman saw a chance to get a special talent.

Cashman could still go sign a veteran to play second. Asdrubal Cabrera and Stephen Drew are possibilities. For now, though, the Yankees may go to camp and let the kids compete.

Having already acquired 24-year-old Didi Gregorius to play shortstop, the Yankees have players that may require patience as they attempt to figure things out at the big league level.

Manager Joe Girardi -- and his veteran players -- have done a tremendous job creating the right environment the last few years, so the Yankees feel confident that if the players are good enough, their talent will take over.

Eovaldi strikes out seven

ATL@MIA: Eovaldi fans seven over 6 1/3 frames

9/6/14: Nathan Eovaldi allows three runs and strikes out seven batters over 6 1/3 innings for the Marlins

There's some youth on the pitching staff, too. Masahiro Tanaka (26), Michael Pineda (25) and Eovaldi are all young guys, with Ivan Nova (27), Chase Whitley (25) and Bryan Mitchell (23) possibly figuring into the rotation mix at some point.

The bullpen isn't older, either, with Dellin Betances (26), Andrew Miller (29) and Justin Wilson (27) likely to get most of the late-inning workload. Left-hander Manny Banuelos (23) seems likely to make his long-awaited big league debut next summer.

These 2015 Yankees are going to be far different from some other years when they had a former All-Star at almost every position. Older players and younger ones both come with some risk for different reasons.

But every team must make the kind of transition the Yankees are making. The Giants did it last summer, with five rookies ending up on their postseason roster. The Yankees were always going to look different once Jeter walked out the door.

Now, Cashman appears to have positioned them to move forward with a transition of sorts while remaining capable of winning the American League East. Best of all, young players have a chance to get better and better.

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

Inbox: How will Eovaldi fare in AL?

Eovaldi gave the Marlins innings (199 2/3) but just 142 strikeouts, so he needs to improve on missing bats, especially now that he will be working in Yankee Stadium. On the positive front: the Yanks' number-crunchers didn't miss the fact that Eovaldi's FIP (fielding independent pitching) was 3.37, which looks a whole lot sharper than his 4.37 ERA. Could the Marlins' defense have been to blame for some of those hits? Perhaps, so working in front of Chase Headley and Didi Gregorius on the left side should be a plus.

Observers have said that Eovaldi must learn to pitch inside more and stop leaving his offerings over the middle of the plate. That'll be a project for pitching coach Larry Rothschild this spring, but the Yanks believe Eovaldi's potential ceiling is worth the gamble. When his slider and curve are working, he's tough, and the Yanks need to make that a regular thing.

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"He's got a great gift, no doubt about that," Brian Cashman said last week. "It's just about trying to harness that gift into consistent success."

Why are we hearing nothing about Max Scherzer? Are the Yankees a dark horse to sign him?
-- John P., via Twitter

You never want to say never with this team and a big free-agent prize, but at the moment there's no smoke connecting Scherzer and the Yankees. Cashman and team president Randy Levine have both strongly indicated that Scherzer's expected market -- potentially in excess of $200 million -- is going to be too rich for the Yanks to get involved.

"The chances of us bringing in a guy for six [years] and $25 million or over, in my opinion, is virtually none," Levine said last week. Cashman went a step further, telling NBC that "I don't think Yankee fans will be looking at Max Scherzer."

Boras on Scherzer's value

Boras discusses Scherzer's value as the ace of a team

Scott Boras explains why his client Max Scherzer is such a dominant pitcher and what he offers a team as the ace of the rotation

Could that just be posturing, setting up the Yankees to make a late run at Scott Boras with fistfuls of cash? Some would like to believe that, but Jack Curry of the YES Network traced the dollars to provide a good point -- because of luxury tax penalties, a $28 million annual salary to Scherzer would be more like a $42 million dent in the team's bottom line. Even for the Yankees, that's a number that has to make them swallow hard.

With Headley and now Garrett Jones in the fold, is Alex Rodriguez just a part-time DH?
-- Ty B., Madison, Wis.

The Yankees' actions in the last few weeks have given muscle to the idea that they are not going into 2015 counting on production from A-Rod. For a variety of reasons -- last year's suspension, his age, the two bad hips -- whatever they can squeeze out of Rodriguez seems to be viewed as a bonus. He's the great unknown going into '15.

It's still likely that Rodriguez will grab a glove in the spring and play some third base as a backup for Headley, but the Yanks figure to give Jose Pirela time there, too. Rodriguez should also take some reps at first base, though Jones is now second on the depth chart there behind Mark Teixeira.

Where does that leave Rodriguez? For the moment, he could be in a platoon for DH at-bats with Jones, and the Yanks are going to send Jones' left-handed power up against righties at Yankee Stadium. While A-Rod was productive against righties during his short season in 2013, he hit just .200 (10-for-50) with a .585 OPS against lefties.

If the Yankees do not sign a second baseman like Asdrubal Cabrera, could you see both Rob Refsnyder and Pirela making the roster?
-- Mike B., Bayside, N.Y.

Assuming the Yankees plan to start the year with a 12-man pitching staff, there aren't any injuries and A-Rod is on the roster, they'd probably have to pick one or the other. They've got some pretty solid roster locks for the bench in Jones, John Ryan Murphy, Brendan Ryan and Chris Young, plus Rodriguez.

This reminds me of those weeks in December 2005 when Bubba Crosby was supposedly in line to be the starting center fielder. The Yankees were talking in September about how Refsnyder should get a crack at the starting second-base job in '15, and that's definitely on the table right now, though it doesn't seem to be an absolute lock. Pirela provides more versatility and could get a spring look at multiple positions.

"It's a competition right now that exists on the current roster, and I'll evaluate any other opportunities that legitimately present themselves," Cashman said last week. "But clearly if Spring Training started today, that would be the competition."

That wasn't exactly a slam-dunk endorsement. It was around this time last year that the Yankees gave $2 million to Brian Roberts, and there are a couple of free agents who fit the mold of looking for a bounce-back deal -- Cabrera, who has fallen quite a bit from his All-Star days with the Indians, and Stephen Drew, who would be open to returning as a second baseman.

What is the Yankees' plan to hire Kevin Long's replacement? We have not heard much on the club's plans to hire a new hitting coach since early November.
-- Remy C., Chicago

After that initial round of interviews, the Yankees hit the pause button on their searches to replace Long and first-base coach Mick Kelleher, preferring instead to focus on the moves they needed to make in the free agent and trade markets. With a lot of that activity now complete, we can expect to see the Yanks make some progress on the coaching front soon.

The New York Post reported on Monday that Jeff Pentland has been internally discussed as a candidate; Pentland was the Marlins' hitting coordinator last season and has a connection to Joe Girardi. James Rowson, who served as the Yanks' hitting coordinator in 2014, has interviewed and is still thought to be in the mix. Once they hire a hitting coach, they'll decide if they also want to bring in an assistant.

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

Holidays offer Betances time to reflect on a big 2014

MLB.com: What does the spirit of the holiday season mean to you?

Betances: For me, it's just any opportunity you get to give back to the community. I think that's special. I remember, as a little kid, I always looked forward to Christmas and opening some of those gifts. Now, I have to give a lot of the gifts out. It's always good to put smiles on these kids' faces.

MLB.com: What was Christmas like in your home growing up?

Betances: We always got together; our family always [got] together for Christmas Eve and we would wait until midnight to open the gifts up. The last couple of years, it has changed a little bit -- where we will just do it on Christmas Day. Usually, we do it on Christmas Eve at midnight.

MLB.com: You grew up in New York City. How would you describe what a Christmas in the city is like?

Betances: I've gone to see the big tree at Rockefeller Center before, obviously, they always put it up early. We've gone to see that. For me, it's just a joyful time [full of] happiness. You get together with family -- and for me, it's all about the kids being able to receive some of the gifts and just see the reaction they get when they open [them].

MLB.com: What kinds of things do you remember putting on your list as a kid?

Betances: I was always a big video-game guy. Anytime I got any video game -- or anything for that matter -- I was always excited for that. I'm a big sports guy, so I'd love to get "MLB: The Show;" before that, it was "MVP Baseball." I remember asking for "Mortal Kombat" and "Street Fighter" when I was younger. Those games would excite me. ... I always liked opening a box of shoes. I remember my father used to get me Air Jordans or Vince Carters. Things like that were always exciting to open up.

MLB.com: How about a meaningful gift that you gave? Is there one that sticks out in your mind?

Betances: Well, last year I got engaged on Christmas (to Janisa; they were married on Nov. 29). That's a pretty good gift. That's one that I would remember. It was just about getting the family together for her and doing it in front of everybody. I thought it was a good idea to do it in front of her family, and she loved it.

MLB.com: What's on your TV around the holidays? Is there a favorite movie or special that you always watch?

Betances: "Home Alone II," the one that is in Central Park. It'll be on TV, and I'll always watch it. I just like all the parts where [Kevin McCallister is] playing tricks with the guys and stuff. The part at the end with all the pigeons and he's running around with the two bad guys; that's my favorite part.

MLB.com: How has your view of the holidays changed from when you were a kid?

Betances: For me, it's just about coming here to some of these communities and giving out gifts myself. When I was younger, I always was on the receiving end and loved opening gifts. But now, I'm the one that's giving back. I love this. I love putting smiles on some of these kids' faces.

MLB.com: Now that 2014 is almost complete, have you taken a step back to appreciate this year on a personal level?

Betances: Definitely, I think it opened up opportunities. I think that having the year I've had, I've gotten to do more stuff -- and at the end of the day, that's the best part of it. I'm living every kid's dream. Growing up a Yankees fan and playing for them, they're the best team and the best franchise for me. I'm definitely excited to be wearing pinstripes.

MLB.com: Pitchers and catchers will be here before you know it. What do you hope that Santa leaves under the tree for the Yankees next year?

Betances: For us, it's about being healthy. I think if we get all the guys that were hurt last year, I think we'll be all right. I believe in our team. It's getting back to the playoffs, but it's always winning the World Series. I want to know what it feels like to win a World Series.

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

Steinbrenner's foundation to aid family of slain officer

According to the New York Daily News, Ramos leaves behind two sons: 13-year-old Jaden, and another son, Justin, who attends Bowdoin College in Maine. Liu did not have any children, but leaves behind a wife.

The foundation will provide an education fund of $20,000 per child to assist with tuition payments for prep school, college and university undergraduate and graduate school, vocational and technical school and tutoring services.

Steinbrenner started the foundation in 1982 after attending a funeral of a police officer in New York slain in the line of duty. To date, more than 800 children have received assistance through the program's efforts.

"There would be no Silver Shield Foundation without George Steinbrenner," said William G. Walters, the foundation's chairman. "He believed that these people were underpaid and made our lives possible."

During that ceremony, an American flag was folded military-style and presented to the officer's surviving spouse and children.

"That's when Mr. Steinbrenner said, 'What happens when it comes time for college for these children?'" said K.C. Fuchs, the foundation's chief operating officer. "'We need to help them. We need to start a foundation.'"

Under Steinbrenner's watch, the Yankees donated the proceeds of one home game per season to get the foundation started. The team continues to be "very generous donors," Walters said.

Fuchs said that the foundation has already been in contact with the NYPD's Family Assistance Department. The foundation covers the children of all members of the NYPD, FDNY, state police and Port Authority workers in the tri-state area.

Contributions can be made to: Silver Shield Foundation, 870 United Nations Plaza, 1st Floor, New York, NY, 10017, or via the foundation's website at www.silvershieldfoundation.org.

"We've been the quietest charity there is, because that's the way Mr. Steinbrenner wanted it," Walters said. "We're one of the many jewels that he helped. He had a quote that was interesting; he said, 'If more than two people know about it, it's not charity.'"

Jamal Collier is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jamalcollier. 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