Pinstripe Bowl records its first sellout in fifth year

NEW YORK -- The fifth edition of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium was its first sellout.

Penn State defeated Boston College, 31-30 in overtime, in front of 49,012 fans in New York on Saturday, breaking last year's attendance record of 47,122 for the contest between Notre Dame and Rutgers.

"This is the most successful New Era Pinstripe Bowl, and that's a tribute to the two sensational universities, great universities," said Yankees president Randy Levine. "Boston College and Penn State -- we're so honored to have their presidents here, we're so honored to have the athletic directors and everybody from those universities."

The matchup between Boston College (7-6) and Penn State (7-6) was the first Pinstripe Bowl meeting between the ACC and the Big Ten, the game's two conference tie-ins.

It was also the first time either of the two teams have played at the new Yankee Stadium, which Penn State coach James Franklin said was in top form Saturday.

"It was a football stadium tonight," Franklin answered when asked what it was like to play in a baseball stadium. "An awesome one, and we loved it."

Penn State tied the game late in regulation with a field goal and won it in overtime on an extra point. The Nittany Lions now lead the all-time series, 20-4, snapping a three-game Boston College winning streak.

"We had an unbelievable experience [at the Pinstripe Bowl]," Franklin said. "I've been a part of a lot of bowls. This was first class. The players had a great experience, so did the coaching staff. New York was an unbelievable host. [We're] very thankful and appreciative of that."

AJ Cassavell is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Penn State kicker takes cue from Captain Clutch

Sure enough, with the game on the line, there was Ficken lined up in deep center field with a chance to win the game in extras -- er, overtime.

Having already tied the contest with a late field goal in regulation, Ficken simply needed an extra point to send Penn State to its first bowl victory in five years. He made sure there wasn't any doubt, sending the ball through the uprights and soaring over Monument Park.

A Jeter-esque walk-off, if you will, for Penn State's Mr. December.

"A lot of the guys remember how Jeter ended his career, and they're like, 'The stars were aligned,'" said Ficken, a Cubs fan from Indiana. "It's something that's coincidental, but it's a very cool storyline."

Ficken's extra point ignited a celebration among the Penn State contingent in the Bronx, and it sent him into a mad dash across the outfield grass toward the Yankees' home dugout. But perhaps more important was his pressure-packed 44-yard field goal in the final minute of regulation to send the game to overtime. It was a field goal attempted from Jeter's turf, no less -- somewhere around the deep-shortstop/shallow-left-field area.

That kick tied the game, and the stage was set for Ficken again as soon as Boston College kicker Mike Knoll missed an extra point to start the overtime. Penn State tight end Kyle Carter caught the game-tying touchdown pass from quarterback Christian Hackenberg on 3rd-and-7, and Ficken iced the game shortly thereafter.

"I love Sam, and he's been that way all year long," first-year Penn State head coach James Franklin said. "He's probably been our best offensive weapon all year long -- he really has. The way that guy's career started, he had some bumps along the way, but, again, to go out here with that field goal, there was no doubt."

How exactly did Ficken -- a Penn State captain -- end up with the Captain's locker? Well, it wasn't his call. The equipment managers put his things in Jeter's locker without Ficken's knowledge. Ficken thinks it was a not-so-subtle reward for his friendly interactions with them over the years.

"I was kind of surprised they even let people still use [Jeter's locker], to be honest," Ficken said. "He's such a big deal to this place. This is called the Stadium that Jeter built. I'm a little surprised they still use it. But obviously, I was pretty excited to be able to put my stuff in it, and say I was -- not a part of that -- but just to say I was there."

For Ficken, it was a fitting end to a remarkable comeback story. Thrust into the limelight as a sophomore when Penn State's top kicker transferred in the wake of NCAA sanctions, Ficken struggled as a newly minted starter in 2012.

And "struggled" might be an understatement. In a game at Virginia that year, Ficken missed four field goals and an extra point, including a potential game-winner, and Penn State lost, 17-16. For the remainder of that season, then-head coach Bill O'Brien shied away from using Ficken at all, often electing to go for it on fourth down from well within field goal range.

Two and a half years later, Ficken has a legitimate shot to pursue an NFL career. During the season, he converted on 23 of 28 attempts and only missed one kick that wasn't blocked. He was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award last month.

And if the NFL doesn't work out, Ficken probably has a nice career ahead of him one borough south of Yankee Stadium. An intern at Merrill Lynch this past summer, Ficken says he'd like to pursue a career on Wall Street once he's done kicking. He even had the privilege of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.

Pinstripe Bowl rings NYSE bell

Pinstripe Bowl participants ring NYSE Opening Bell

Players, coaches and members of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl committee ring the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange

Safe to say it was quite the week for Ficken -- the second captain to end his career with a walk-off at Yankee Stadium in 2014.

"I'm just so happy for this team," Ficken said. "We've been through so much. To end it that way -- in overtime in Yankee Stadium in New York City -- that's perfect. You couldn't ask for anything better."

AJ Cassavell is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nittany Lions roar past BC to take Pinstripe Bowl in overtime

The Nittany Lions trailed for most of Saturday's second half, but Ficken stepped up to help them earn their first bowl win since 2010. Ficken forced overtime with a 45-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and then he kicked the decisive extra point to give Penn State the victory.

Penn State (7-6) hadn't played in a bowl since the 2011 season due to NCAA sanctions, and Ficken's kick touched off a raucous celebration on the sideline. This was the first sellout and the first overtime game in the five-year history of the Pinstripe Bowl, and Penn State's fans turned out in droves.

"It was a football stadium tonight. An awesome one," said Penn State coach James Franklin of Yankee Stadium, which gave him the third bowl victory of his head coaching career. "And we loved it."

Boston College (7-6) led 21-14 after the end of the third quarter, but the taut nature of the game was well reflected in the statistics. The two teams were separated by one yard -- 287 for BC and 286 for Penn State -- at that point of the game, and time of possession was skewed by just 12 seconds.

Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, led his team on a tying touchdown drive midway through the final quarter. And then, after Boston College pushed ahead on a field goal, Hackenberg engineered a tying drive in under two minutes.

But the game still had plenty of life. Boston College went ahead on a 21-yard pass from Tyler Murphy to David Dudeck in overtime, but kicker Mike Knoll left the door open by missing the extra point. Penn State came right back with a Hackenberg throw to Kyle Carter and Ficken iced the game.

"As I told the team in there, there's a lot of plays all over the place. We had a lot of chances for interceptions that we let get away from us," said Boston College coach Steve Addazio of the end result. "I'm sure there's missed blocks here, penalties all over the place. When you lose a game in overtime like that, the obvious thing to look at is the way we lost it. The bitter end. There will be plays along the way that could've changed the game. You can drive yourself absolutely insane."

Boston College made some program history in the loss: Murphy (105) and tailback Jon Hilliman (148) became the first BC teammates to rush for 100 yards in a bowl game. The Eagles rushed for 285 yards against the nation's top rushing defense, but Murphy only threw for 97 yards in the loss.

Franklin, working through his first year at Penn State after a previous tenure at Vanderbilt, deflected any and all praise that came his way Saturday. He made sure to credit his players and the ultra-loyal fanbase at Penn State for persevering through the tough times and making their way back.

"It has very little to do with James Franklin," he said after his team's momentous win. "It has to do with all the former players, the current players, the assistant coaches. The trainers, the doctors, the video [staff]. It has to do with our fans that show up and sell out every single game. We're all a part of this. I think we've been fractured. ... But I think experiences and games like this have restored the hope."

The game's first half didn't produce much in the way of scoring. Penn State pushed ahead for the first time on a 72-yard touchdown throw from Hackenberg to true freshman Chris Godwin. Godwin beat his man, and Hackenberg hit him in stride up the right sideline for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

That drive took just 1:01 for Penn State, but Boston College didn't waste much time in responding. Hilliman went for 52 yards on two plays -- a three-yard run and a 49-yard touchdown off tackle -- to give the Eagles a 44-second scoring drive. Neither team would score again before the half.

Murphy would lead the Eagles to a sizable cushion in the third quarter, thanks to a lengthy drive capped by a 19-yard throw to Shakim Phillips. Later in the quarter -- after Hackenberg fumbled a snap -- Murphy put BC up two touchdowns by taking an option play 40 yards to the end zone.

"Tyler has done a great job," Addazio said of his quarterback, who transferred to BC from the University of Florida. "He's been a tremendous addition to our program. He provided stability. He provided experience. He provided leadership. He's an A-1-A terrific character guy.

"He had a great, valiant effort today. I'm proud of what he accomplished, and I'm happy for him that he's able to have the kind of senior year that he'd always dreamed of having."

Hackenberg, a sophomore, just wouldn't let Murphy steal the show. The native of Lehighton, Pa., got the ball with 2:04 left in the third quarter and quickly led Penn State on a scoring drive. The youngster went 3-for-4, hitting Geno Lewis for a 32-yard catch and then a seven-yard touchdown.

Penn State came back for more in the fourth quarter, and Akeel Lynch put them on the 1-yard-line with a 35-yard run. The Nittany Lions nearly wasted that run with a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Hackenberg found DaeSean Hamilton for a 16-yard touchdown on the very next play.

Hackenberg -- who threw 50 times for 371 yards and four touchdowns -- came back for more in the final two minutes. The 19-year-old completed five straight passes to take Penn State from its 24 to the BC 35-yard-line, and three plays later, Ficken tied the game on a field goal with 20 seconds left.

"Every day, I came in and just worked as hard as I could to become a better play," said Hackenberg of his season. "I wanted to be the best teammate I can be and push these guys to take their game to the next level. I think that's a big role as a quarterback, especially at Penn State. You need to be able to elevate everyone else's play when need be, and I think we were able to do that today."

The Pinstripe Bowl has now had four different champions in five seasons of play. Syracuse is the only team to win twice, and Notre Dame, Rutgers and Penn State are the bowl's other champions. Last year's game is the only other one to draw 40,000-plus fans.

For Franklin -- who won two bowl games in three seasons at Vanderbilt -- the Pinstripe Bowl was a landmark for a few reasons. It gave Penn State its first bowl victory since 2010 and a winning record in his inaugural campaign, and it also showed him that his team can rebound from adversity.

"Early in the game when we had the ball in the strike zone, we had penalties or turnovers," he said. "I think we could've got a few more points on the board. It would've made it a little less crazy at the end. Again, we're trying to help the Big Ten out, ESPN, to get the ratings up. That's why we did it that way."

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

Penn State kicker takes cue from Captain Clutch

Sure enough, with the game on the line, there was Ficken lined up in deep center field with a chance to win the game in extras -- er, overtime.

Having already tied the contest with a late field goal in regulation, Ficken simply needed an extra point to send Penn State to its first bowl victory in five years. He made sure there wasn't any doubt, sending the ball through the uprights and soaring over Monument Park.

A Jeter-esque walk-off, if you will, for Penn State's Mr. December.

"A lot of the guys remember how Jeter ended his career, and they're like, 'The stars were aligned,'" said Ficken, a Cubs fan from Indiana. "It's something that's coincidental, but it's a very cool storyline."

Ficken's extra point ignited a celebration among the Penn State contingent in the Bronx, and it sent him into a mad dash across the outfield grass toward the Yankees' home dugout. But perhaps more important was his pressure-packed 44-yard field goal in the final minute of regulation to send the game to overtime. It was a field goal attempted from Jeter's turf, no less -- somewhere around the deep-shortstop/shallow-left-field area.

That kick tied the game, and the stage was set for Ficken again as soon as Boston College kicker Mike Knoll missed an extra point to start the overtime. Penn State tight end Kyle Carter caught the game-tying touchdown pass from quarterback Christian Hackenberg on 3rd-and-7, and Ficken iced the game shortly thereafter.

"I love Sam, and he's been that way all year long," first-year Penn State head coach James Franklin said. "He's probably been our best offensive weapon all year long -- he really has. The way that guy's career started, he had some bumps along the way, but, again, to go out here with that field goal, there was no doubt."

How exactly did Ficken -- a Penn State captain -- end up with the Captain's locker? Well, it wasn't his call. The equipment managers put his things in Jeter's locker without Ficken's knowledge. Ficken thinks it was a not-so-subtle reward for his friendly interactions with them over the years.

"I was kind of surprised they even let people still use [Jeter's locker], to be honest," Ficken said. "He's such a big deal to this place. This is called the Stadium that Jeter built. I'm a little surprised they still use it. But obviously, I was pretty excited to be able to put my stuff in it, and say I was -- not a part of that -- but just to say I was there."

For Ficken, it was a fitting end to a remarkable comeback story. Thrust into the limelight as a sophomore when Penn State's top kicker transferred in the wake of NCAA sanctions, Ficken struggled as a newly minted starter in 2012.

And "struggled" might be an understatement. In a game at Virginia that year, Ficken missed four field goals and an extra point, including a potential game-winner, and Penn State lost, 17-16. For the remainder of that season, then-head coach Bill O'Brien shied away from using Ficken at all, often electing to go for it on fourth down from well within field goal range.

Two and a half years later, Ficken has a legitimate shot to pursue an NFL career. During the season, he converted on 23 of 28 attempts and only missed one kick that wasn't blocked. He was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award last month.

And if the NFL doesn't work out, Ficken probably has a nice career ahead of him one borough south of Yankee Stadium. An intern at Merrill Lynch this past summer, Ficken says he'd like to pursue a career on Wall Street once he's done kicking. He even had the privilege of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.

Pinstripe Bowl rings NYSE bell

Pinstripe Bowl participants ring NYSE Opening Bell

Players, coaches and members of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl committee ring the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange

Safe to say it was quite the week for Ficken -- the second captain to end his career with a walk-off at Yankee Stadium in 2014.

"I'm just so happy for this team," Ficken said. "We've been through so much. To end it that way -- in overtime in Yankee Stadium in New York City -- that's perfect. You couldn't ask for anything better."

AJ Cassavell is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pinstripe Bowl records its first sellout in fifth year

NEW YORK -- The fifth edition of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium was its first sellout.

Penn State defeated Boston College, 31-30 in overtime, in front of 49,012 fans in New York on Saturday, breaking last year's attendance record of 47,122 for the contest between Notre Dame and Rutgers.

"This is the most successful New Era Pinstripe Bowl, and that's a tribute to the two sensational universities, great universities," said Yankees president Randy Levine. "Boston College and Penn State -- we're so honored to have their presidents here, we're so honored to have the athletic directors and everybody from those universities."

The matchup between Boston College (7-6) and Penn State (7-6) was the first Pinstripe Bowl meeting between the ACC and the Big Ten, the game's two conference tie-ins.

It was also the first time either of the two teams have played at the new Yankee Stadium, which Penn State coach James Franklin said was in top form Saturday.

"It was a football stadium tonight," Franklin answered when asked what it was like to play in a baseball stadium. "An awesome one, and we loved it."

Penn State tied the game late in regulation with a field goal and won it in overtime on an extra point. The Nittany Lions now lead the all-time series, 20-4, snapping a three-game Boston College winning streak.

"We had an unbelievable experience [at the Pinstripe Bowl]," Franklin said. "I've been a part of a lot of bowls. This was first class. The players had a great experience, so did the coaching staff. New York was an unbelievable host. [We're] very thankful and appreciative of that."

AJ Cassavell is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nittany Lions roar past BC to take Pinstripe Bowl in overtime

The Nittany Lions trailed for most of Saturday's second half, but Ficken stepped up to help them earn their first bowl win since 2010. Ficken forced overtime with a 45-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and then he kicked the decisive extra point to give Penn State the victory.

Penn State (7-6) hadn't played in a bowl since the 2011 season due to NCAA sanctions, and Ficken's kick touched off a raucous celebration on the sideline. This was the first sellout and the first overtime game in the five-year history of the Pinstripe Bowl, and Penn State's fans turned out in droves.

"It was a football stadium tonight. An awesome one," said Penn State coach James Franklin of Yankee Stadium, which gave him the third bowl victory of his head coaching career. "And we loved it."

Boston College (7-6) led 21-14 after the end of the third quarter, but the taut nature of the game was well reflected in the statistics. The two teams were separated by one yard -- 287 for BC and 286 for Penn State -- at that point of the game, and time of possession was skewed by just 12 seconds.

Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, led his team on a tying touchdown drive midway through the final quarter. And then, after Boston College pushed ahead on a field goal, Hackenberg engineered a tying drive in under two minutes.

But the game still had plenty of life. Boston College went ahead on a 21-yard pass from Tyler Murphy to David Dudeck in overtime, but kicker Mike Knoll left the door open by missing the extra point. Penn State came right back with a Hackenberg throw to Kyle Carter and Ficken iced the game.

"As I told the team in there, there's a lot of plays all over the place. We had a lot of chances for interceptions that we let get away from us," said Boston College coach Steve Addazio of the end result. "I'm sure there's missed blocks here, penalties all over the place. When you lose a game in overtime like that, the obvious thing to look at is the way we lost it. The bitter end. There will be plays along the way that could've changed the game. You can drive yourself absolutely insane."

Boston College made some program history in the loss: Murphy (105) and tailback Jon Hilliman (148) became the first BC teammates to rush for 100 yards in a bowl game. The Eagles rushed for 285 yards against the nation's top rushing defense, but Murphy only threw for 97 yards in the loss.

Franklin, working through his first year at Penn State after a previous tenure at Vanderbilt, deflected any and all praise that came his way Saturday. He made sure to credit his players and the ultra-loyal fanbase at Penn State for persevering through the tough times and making their way back.

"It has very little to do with James Franklin," he said after his team's momentous win. "It has to do with all the former players, the current players, the assistant coaches. The trainers, the doctors, the video [staff]. It has to do with our fans that show up and sell out every single game. We're all a part of this. I think we've been fractured. ... But I think experiences and games like this have restored the hope."

The game's first half didn't produce much in the way of scoring. Penn State pushed ahead for the first time on a 72-yard touchdown throw from Hackenberg to true freshman Chris Godwin. Godwin beat his man, and Hackenberg hit him in stride up the right sideline for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

That drive took just 1:01 for Penn State, but Boston College didn't waste much time in responding. Hilliman went for 52 yards on two plays -- a three-yard run and a 49-yard touchdown off tackle -- to give the Eagles a 44-second scoring drive. Neither team would score again before the half.

Murphy would lead the Eagles to a sizable cushion in the third quarter, thanks to a lengthy drive capped by a 19-yard throw to Shakim Phillips. Later in the quarter -- after Hackenberg fumbled a snap -- Murphy put BC up two touchdowns by taking an option play 40 yards to the end zone.

"Tyler has done a great job," Addazio said of his quarterback, who transferred to BC from the University of Florida. "He's been a tremendous addition to our program. He provided stability. He provided experience. He provided leadership. He's an A-1-A terrific character guy.

"He had a great, valiant effort today. I'm proud of what he accomplished, and I'm happy for him that he's able to have the kind of senior year that he'd always dreamed of having."

Hackenberg, a sophomore, just wouldn't let Murphy steal the show. The native of Lehighton, Pa., got the ball with 2:04 left in the third quarter and quickly led Penn State on a scoring drive. The youngster went 3-for-4, hitting Geno Lewis for a 32-yard catch and then a seven-yard touchdown.

Penn State came back for more in the fourth quarter, and Akeel Lynch put them on the 1-yard-line with a 35-yard run. The Nittany Lions nearly wasted that run with a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Hackenberg found DaeSean Hamilton for a 16-yard touchdown on the very next play.

Hackenberg -- who threw 50 times for 371 yards and four touchdowns -- came back for more in the final two minutes. The 19-year-old completed five straight passes to take Penn State from its 24 to the BC 35-yard-line, and three plays later, Ficken tied the game on a field goal with 20 seconds left.

"Every day, I came in and just worked as hard as I could to become a better play," said Hackenberg of his season. "I wanted to be the best teammate I can be and push these guys to take their game to the next level. I think that's a big role as a quarterback, especially at Penn State. You need to be able to elevate everyone else's play when need be, and I think we were able to do that today."

The Pinstripe Bowl has now had four different champions in five seasons of play. Syracuse is the only team to win twice, and Notre Dame, Rutgers and Penn State are the bowl's other champions. Last year's game is the only other one to draw 40,000-plus fans.

For Franklin -- who won two bowl games in three seasons at Vanderbilt -- the Pinstripe Bowl was a landmark for a few reasons. It gave Penn State its first bowl victory since 2010 and a winning record in his inaugural campaign, and it also showed him that his team can rebound from adversity.

"Early in the game when we had the ball in the strike zone, we had penalties or turnovers," he said. "I think we could've got a few more points on the board. It would've made it a little less crazy at the end. Again, we're trying to help the Big Ten out, ESPN, to get the ratings up. That's why we did it that way."

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.

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BC, PSU gear up for Pinstripe Bowl at Stadium

Penn State has held opponents to 84.8 rushing yards per game -- tops of any NCAA defense this season -- and also ranks second overall in total yards allowed. Boston College, meanwhile, has rushed for nearly 252 yards per game, and it will test its strength head-up against Penn State.

"I think we're going to have to stick to what we do," said senior B.C. lineman Andy Gallik, who was named a finalist for the Rimington Award as the nation's best center. "Penn State is just as tough as we are, and I think that stems from their coaching staff. Both of our staffs are similar, and you can see that in how they play. We're going to run the ball just like we always have. We're going to run it right at them, and we feel like that's how we're most comfortable and most effective. That's going to set up passing situations where Tyler Murphy is going to make a lot of plays for us. It's going to be a really tough game."

Both of these teams have had bright spots this season, and both have struggled at points. Penn State (6-6) won each of its first four games but has lost six of its last eight and went just 2-6 against Big Ten conference opponents this season. B.C. (7-5) went 4-4 against Atlantic Coast Conference foes and took No. 2 Florida State all the way to the limit before losing.

And now, these two teams find themselves fighting against a potential recruiting rival in their bowl game. Both Penn State and Boston College want to dominate the Northeast recruiting landscape, and they'll have an opportunity to make a statement against each other in the fifth annual Pinstripe Bowl.

"We've played some good defenses this year, but these guys are as good as anybody we've played," said B.C. offensive coordinator Ryan Day. "We've played Florida State and we've played Clemson. We've played Louisville. We've played some good defenses, but these guys are as good if not better than those guys. They know their schemes well. They're talented and very well coached."

Both teams have their share of star players. Murphy, B.C.'s dual-threat quarterback, has received most of the accolades this season, and Penn State has senior linebacker Mike Hull. Hull was named second-team All-American this year, and he'll be playing his final college game on Saturday.

Murphy has thrown for 1,500 yards and run for 1,100 yards, but BC has done most of its damage on the ground. The Eagles rank 12th nationally at rush offense and 121st out of 125 teams in passing, and Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop wants his players to keep simple goals in mind.

"We've got to beat blocks, we've got to run to the ball and we've got to tackle like a big league football team," he said. "I think sometimes when you've got a lot of time to prepare for a bowl game, you try to overthink things or reinvent the wheel. We haven't done that. We're going to keep it simple. ... I always say that bowl games are about three things: You see ball security, tackling and special teams show up in bowls. We've talked about trying to take the ball away and talked about tackling well."

And if Penn State likes its matchup on defense, Boston College might be able to say the same thing. B.C. has the No. 12 overall defense in the country -- yielding just 313.5 yards per game -- and will be facing a team that has a sophomore quarterback and four freshmen receivers.

One of those freshmen -- DaeSean Hamilton -- has distinguished himself with 75 catches and 848 yards this season, and he was named to the second-team all-conference. John Donovan, Penn State's offensive coordinator, said that the entire season has been a learning experience for his players.

"We have a few true freshmen playing. And redshirt freshmen," he said. "You can teach them all you want, but until they get game experience, you don't know. ...That's been happening every week of the year here and that's why they'll be so much better. That's going to help as we go forward."

Hamilton, a native of Fredericksburg, Va., missed his entire true freshman year with a broken wrist, and he's stepped right in and starred as a redshirt freshman. The youngster said he'd never lost four games in a row as a high school player and he knows brighter days are ahead for Penn State.

"I'd say I'm thrilled, but I know I can do a lot better," Hamilton said of his performance during his freshman year. "There are areas of my game that I know I can get better at in the upcoming season. There's always somebody out there trying to compete with you, and there's always somebody out there that could be better than you. Anytime I can grow as a player, I'm going to try to take advantage of that."

B.C. lost several standouts from last year's team that went 7-5, including the program's all-time leading rusher (Andre Williams) and receiver (Alex Amidon). Murphy has stepped right in and kept the team's offense running smoothly, and that's allowed the B.C. defense to keep the team in games. Don Brown, the defensive coordinator, said the Eagles have a lot to be proud of this season.

"It's been an interesting year. If you'd asked Coach Day or myself, if you come out of there with seven years in a transition year, you'd probably be pleased," said Brown. "We let Clemson off the hook. We let Colorado State off the hook, and Florida State we took all the way to the wire. We shut them out for the entire second half except for three seconds. It could've been a special year, but by the same token, some of those wins for us could've gone the other way, too. The win at U.S.C. could've gone either way. It is what it is, but we're very pleased to have seven wins and to be in the Pinstripe Bowl."

Representatives from both teams rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, and they both had an opportunity to visit the World Trade Center memorial earlier in the week. Now there's nothing left to do but play, and these two similar teams can't wait to test their mettle on Saturday.

"It's a challenge we're really looking forward to. I'm sure they're looking forward to it as well," said Murphy. "You have to strap your chinstrap a little tighter. Just go out there and have fun. It's going to be a challenging game. It's going to be tough. It's going to be competitive. But as a college football player, this is something you look forward to. And what better place than to be here in Yankee Stadium? We're two teams from the East trying to turn the tide and have momentum going into next season."

The first Yankee Stadium was the home of football's New York Giants from 1956-73, and college powers like Army and Notre Dame frequently played at the venue during the 1930's and 40's.

The new Yankee Stadium harkened back to those days of yore by hosting Notre Dame vs. Army in 2010, and it's handled a few regular season games in addition to the Pinstripe Bowl in recent years. Army faced off against UConn this year, and rivals Lafayette and Lehigh also played at Yankee Stadium.

The Pinstripe Bowl has had a brief but eventful history often marked by inclement weather. Local powers Syracuse and Rutgers have both won the Pinstripe Bowl over its first few seasons. Notre Dame took the title last year, when it dominated the second half en route to a 29-16 win over Rutgers.

The Empire State Building's world famous tower lights gave a nod to the Pinstripe Bowl on Friday. The north and south sides of the building will be lit in white and navy for Penn State University, while the east and west sides will be lit in gold and maroon for Boston College.

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

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Kuroda reportedly returning to Japan to pitch

Hiroki Kuroda is returning to Japan to pitch for Nippon Professional Baseball, according to multiple reports.

A Japanese newspaper first reported the story on Friday, and CBSSports.com later confirmed the report. The CBSSports.com report also mentioned that Kuroda plans to pitch for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, the team he pitched for prior to coming to the United States.

Kuroda, a free agent, spent the 2014 season as a member of the Yankees. He went 11-9 with a 3.71 ERA.

The right-hander pitched for the Toyo Carp from 1997-2007 and won a Best Nine Award in 2005, which is given to the best player at each position.

Overall, the 39-year-old spent seven seasons in the Majors, four with the Dodgers and three with New York. He went 79-79 with a 3.45 ERA in 1,319 career innings.

William Boor is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @wboor. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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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.

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