#Yankees are doing it all

Offense, Defense and Pitching: #Yankees are doing it all  

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 23- Can the pitching, offense and at times defense continue for the New York Yankees that has propelled them to a six game advantage in the Al East? The Baltimore Orioles, just days ago came to the Bronx within reach of the division lead but they have quickly faded off the map after their second loss in two nights to the sizzling Yankees in the Bronx.

Tuesday night it was the pitching and the offense, plus an occasional sparkling play on the field that put the Orioles away. Wednesday night it was the same formula and two of the veterans again, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira, supplied the long ball in the Yankees 4-3 win.

Ivan Nova (2-3) got the win. His 6.0 innings and two earned runs, with a sinker that started bad and ended good, snapped a career high three-game losing streak. The way the Yankees have been hitting the home runs, distinctly different from the last two years, the effort from Nova was sufficient.

And the way the Yankees bullpen has been finishing off games, another one-run game was good for a win, though Andrew Miller made it interesting giving up a two-out home run in the ninth to Chris Davis in earning his 22nd save.

“We felt pretty good that some guys could have bounce back years and be productive for us,” the manager Joe Girardi said about the MVP seasons that Rodriguez and Teixeira have displayed.  

Girardi said, if they stayed healthy this type of production would be expected. The soon to be 40-year old Rodriguez is showing no signs of the declining player that was expected after hitting his 20th home run and knocking in his 54th run in the fifth inning.  The home run perhaps to many added another milestone to his controversial career, and it was the longest one hit at Yankee Stadium this season that went deep into the left center field bleachers. 

And it was the first time since 2010 that A-Rod hit the 20 home run mark.Teixeira had his fourth straight multi-hit game and his  two-run homer to deep right in the first, his 24th, added to his team RBI lead with 66. That opened a Yankees 3-0 lead and with these numbers is headed to a 45 home run and 120 RBI season.

MVP numbers for both players, more importantly production coming from two players that have a combined 44 home runs, and a reason the Yankees are number two in baseball with the home run.

“Knock on wood,’ Girardi said, adding they are healthy and there is no doubt that the remaining two months of the season they need to remain healthy. Girardi is also not shy to say what Rodriguez has done with a comment, “ more than expected.”

Teixeira, on the other hand was quick to remind everyone that he saw the production coming from Rodriguez, and knew that his health was always an issue that reduced his production the past two years. So the Yankees are getting what they need from two key players that were not there last year.

“He’s showing that I’m the smartest guy in baseball,” Teixeira commented about the production he said would come from Rodriguez. That got a laugh from media members, and by all standards it has been surprising production from someone who sat out all of last year, and supposedly gets his at bats with two bad hips as the regular designated hitter.

Once again Rodriguez said “Joe is a good leader,” and that goes back to spring training when it was best decided by Girardi that A-Rod would be more productive and of better use being inserted in the DH spot. 

Teixeira added, about how the Yankees are starting to take command of their division: “ You get starting pitching the way we have the past few days it’s easier to do  The starting pitching sets the tone.  It allows us to play our game and keeps us in every game too.”

Nathan Eovaldi gave the Yankees almost six good innings the night before and Masahiro Tanaka, showing no signs of elbow issues, gets the ball for the series final Thursday afternoon and he has won his last two starts.

And as Teixeira said, the one run games because of the pitching and the dominant bullpen, have put the Yankees where they are. New York has played five straight one-run games since the all-star break and won four.   

“It’s as good as anyone in baseball,” he said about the Yankees’ pen. “In close games a lot of it is, whose bullpen is better.”  And it is huge when the starters can rely on the pen that has quickly become a tbird best in baseball.

But more importantly, the defense is helping to keep runs from coming across. Teixeira prevented the Orioles from possibly scoring two runs in the fifth inning by grabbing a one-hop throw from Chase Headley at third. If not, the ball could have went down the right field line.    

“Our defensive play has won us some games this year,” Girardi said. But it is well known, a healthy and productive offense from Rodriguez and Teixeira are a huge factor that sees the Yankees 11-games over .500 and widening that gap in their division.

Still a lot of baseball left to play and Girardi keeps reminding everyone about that factor. But for the moment the Yankees are comfortable and there is every reason to be talking with confidence.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Twitter@Ring786  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Yankees Evolve with Eovaldi

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Yankees Evolve with Eovaldi: #Yankees Evolve with  Eovaldi By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 22- Nathan Eovaldi has seen the progress as does his manager J...

#Yankees Evolve with Eovaldi

#Yankees Evolve with Eovaldi

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 22- Nathan Eovaldi has seen the progress as does his manager Joe Girardi. Tuesday night in the Bronx, Eovaldi did not get the win for the New York Yankees but his splitter and fastball continued to improve and the 5/2-3 innings, two runs earned gave his team another quality start.

The pieces for Eovaldi continue to come together, as do other important elements of the puzzle for the Yankees. The bullpen and bottom of the batting order were instrumental in the 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles as they widened the gap a bit with a five game lead over Baltimore in the AL East.

Yes, the pieces are coming together for the 51-41 Yankees. Who would have envisioned leading the division and reaching their high water mark, ten game over .500? Four games into their second half of the season and with 70 games remaining, the Yankees are feeling good about themselves.

   

Good teams win games like the Yankees did Tuesday night. A two out go ahead double from Brendan Ryan in the sixth inning was the difference, and the run was scored because Didi Gregorius set it up with the two-out base hit.

Two key hits from the eighth and ninth men in the order. Yes, that is how good teams manage to win. And because Eovaldi gave the Yankees another quality start, and the bullpen duo of Delllin Betances and Andrew Miller once again closed the door in the late innings, the Yankees are continuing to evolve.

“He did another outstanding job and continues to evolve,” said Manager Joe Girardi about his starter who struck out four and walked three. But it is the splitter and a fastball that continues to improve that have cut down the amount of hits that Eovaldi is known to give up. 

It worked again against the Orioles, and the right-hander is becoming a valuable part of a Yankees’ pitching rotation that is getting stronger with the signs also that CC Sabathia is turning it around, and that also decreases the need for GM Brian Cashman to seek help for more pitching before the July 31 trading deadline.

And with a pitch count of 99, Girardi had no hesitation of pulling his starter and having a strong presence out of the pen made the decision easier. Eovaldi said the bullpen is outstanding but the goal is to go deeper into games.

“It takes one pitch,” he said.  That one pitch was a splitter that did not locate and Matt Weiters got a single through the hole at second in the sixth that tied the score at two. Overall, with the exception of that hit, there was that confidence of Eovaldi continuing his progression.

After walking Manny Machado to lead off the game, he retired the next ten Orioles before Adam Jones got a two-out single in the fourth. And not allowing a home run over his last seven starts also shows how far Eovaldi has progressed.

“The 0-2 pitches,” said Girardi. Earlier this season those were the situations that tested Eovaldi and now that the splitter is hitting both sides of the plate he has been able to get the needed outs that show the progression and he uses the pitch when behind in the count.

“My split has been the pitch for me,”  Eovaldi said.  “It’s one of my out pitches that’s helped me pitch a lot.”

And for the Yankees, who feel more confident about their chances, the improvement has come at the right time with a difficult stretch of games ahead in the next few weeks.  it helps also that Betances continues to excel in his set up role, and that Miller is the premiere closer after another perfect ninth inning that notched his 21st save.

Yes, it’s coming together for the Yankees. And an improved Nathan Eovaldi only makes their chances that much better to secure a spot in the postseason.

Comment: Ring786@aol.com  Twitter@Ring786  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Bronx Bloodshed At The BBQ,

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Bronx Bloodshed At The BBQ,: #Bronx Bloodshed At The BBQ, Six Wounded on The Grand Concourse By David Greene Five teens and one adult were wounded during an illegal...

#Bronx Bloodshed At The BBQ,

#Bronx Bloodshed At The BBQ,
Six Wounded on The Grand Concourse
By David Greene

Five teens and one adult were wounded during an illegal midnight barbecue at Franz Sigel Park, in the Concourse Village section of the borough.

Police and EMS were called to the Grand Concourse and East 153 Street, at just after midnight on July 20. Arriving paramedics discovered three victims at the scene.

One victim was reportedly discovered across the street at 730 Grand Concourse and another victim was discovered at East 161 Street, across the street from Bronx Supreme Court. One victim removed himself to Lincoln Hospital.

Officials say the victims included five young men and one woman, five of the victims were teens and one victim was a 20 year-old man.

Police say a 17-year-old male was shot in the right knee, a 16 year-old was hit in the right leg and another slug tore through the forearm of another 16 year-old. The 20-year-old victim was shot in the left calf and the female victim was struck in the right thigh. A 14 year-old was also shot in the left foot.

All of the victims were being treated at Lincoln Hospital and Bronx Lebanon Hospital and none of the injuries were thought to be life-threatening.

Detectives were reportedly looking for the lone gunman seen running from the scene after the shooting. Sources say police had taken an unidentified 19 year-old male to the 44th Precinct for questioning, but that could not be confirmed.

Several trays of untouched food were left at the parks entrance across the street from Cardinal Hayes High School-- as the large crowd quickly dispersed when the gunfire began.

The bloody barbecue capped an end to another bloody weekend in which five people were murdered across the city, including two people shot dead in seperate shootings in the Bronx.

The shooting comes a month after 350 officers were taken off of desk duty and moved to street patrol as part of the"Summer All Out" program, which puts additional police officers in high-crime areas such as Concourse Village.

Police officials could not immediately say how many of the 330 officers were sent to the 44th Precinct.

One area resident claimed there was gunfire the night before at the local McDonald's and two weeks earlier a man was shot dead on Gerard Avenue. The resident added, "I stay away when they barbecue and this is why."

A second resident who slept through the gunfire, added, "There's always something going on in that park."

The park which closes at dusk, sits behind the Bronx Supreme Court and is named after German-born educator Franz Sigel, who taught in the New York City public school system and co-founded the German-American Institute.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Yankees hook Mariners

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Yankees hook Mariners: Yanks Edge Mariners, 4-3, after Home Run by A-Rod By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 18- A seventh inning opposite field home r...

#Yankees hook Mariners

Yanks Edge Mariners, 4-3, after Home Run by A-Rod

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 18- A seventh inning opposite field home run by Alex Rodriguez off an 86 mph fastball by reliever Joe Beimel gave the Yanks their fourth straight win at home. It was the fourth consecutive game in which A-Rod had a go-ahead RBI, the 2015 Yankees record. 

The homer was the 19th of the season and the 673 of Rodriguez’s career. 

The victory at home raised the club’s mark at Yankee Stadium to 17-6 in their last 23 games. Their success in the Bronx gives comfort to the team as the Yankees will play 40 of their 74 post All-Star break contests at the Stadium. They ended the first half of the current season in first place in the American League East by 3.5 games. They have stood on top of the standings alone for the past two weeks.

The first Yankee run of the game was scored on a solo homer by Chris Young in the second frame. The four baggers have come regularly at Yankee Stadium this year. The Yanks have homered in 33 of the 42 home contests, and have has multi-homer games in 22 of the 42. 

Young, who had two extra-base hits in the game, praised manager Joe Girardi, “he’s been giving me opportunities.” For someone who had been scheduled to only be a part-time player, Young has seen action in 82 of the team’s 89 games.

Young was fulsome in his praise of Rodriguez, “That’s just what Al does. He’s a great clutch hitter.” Girardi also commented positively of A-Rod, “He’s held up great in the first half, and I expect he’ll hold up in the second half.” 

Yankee starter Masahiro Tanaka improved his record to 6-3 with the 4-3 victory. He reached seven innings for the sixth time in his 12 starts in 2015. He gave up only five hits and three runs by all three were driven in by Kyle Seager, who homered twice. Tanaka is only the eighth pitcher in the last 100 years in the majors who has 19 wins in his first 32 contests. 

Relievers Dellin betances and Andrew Miller each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. Miller earned his 19th save in 19 opportunities.

#Yankees #mariners #ARod #Bronx

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Guv, mayor come to Bronx to honor Assembly Speaker...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Guv, mayor come to Bronx to honor Assembly Speaker...: In praise of Heastie: Guv, mayor come to Bronx to honor Assembly Speaker (Photos by Seitu Oronde) By Robert Press BR...

Guv, mayor come to Bronx to honor Assembly Speaker

In praise of Heastie:

Guv, mayor come to Bronx to honor Assembly Speaker

(Photos by Seitu Oronde)

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 17- If one photo told the story of last night's Bronx Democratic County Dinner it might be the one with Assemblyman Carl Heastie yucking it up with Governor Andrew Cuomo. 

There was a love fest between the elected officials with both Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio in attendance, but not at the same time. The jam packed dinner had just about every Bronx elected official, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Eric Schniderman, Mayor Bill deBlasio, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Letitia James, Manhattan Democratic County Leader (and future Congressman Keith Wright, and many others for the largest turn out for a Bronx Democratic County Dinner. 

Why did everyone come you may ask? The answer according to Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo was that they came to honor Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. There were four other honorees Mr. Tonio Burgos (President of Tony Burgos and Associates), Aleksander Nilaj (President Albanian American Open Hand Association), Mr. Mike Prohaska (Business Manager of Local 79), and Ms. Maria Rios (President of Classico Building Maintenance Inc.). 

While It was reported that Governor Cuomo took a few swipes at Mayor de Blasio last night, Mayor de Blasio heaped praise on the Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Crespo. Thanking Crespo for much that had been accomplished for the city, and it may just have been the good feelings by everyone that seemed to dominate the dinner. All political corners of success were covered. The new Assembly Speaker (a local Bronx Assemblyman), Labor, a successful MBWE employer, a political consultant, and the new face of immigration to the Bronx, the 'New Bronx’.

#AssemblymanCarlHeastie #GovernorAndrewCuomo #MayorBilldeBlasio #Bronx

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): More #cops

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): More #cops: City Hall Finally Listens to Wakefield  Cops Coming to Reduce Crime By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK,JULY 16- Elizabeth Gill, Presiden...

More #cops

City Hall Finally Listens to Wakefield 

Cops Coming to Reduce Crime

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK,JULY 16- Elizabeth Gill, President of the 47th Precinct Council, demanded action when crime was going way up last year in the 47th Precinct, and it seems that City Hall heard her.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton came to Cardinal Spellman High School to explain the new 'Summer All Out' police department program. It is a three-month program called 'Summer All Out' in the 10 highest crime police precincts. The mayor and police commissioner praised the new program that was started last month. Crime decreased in the 47th Precinct in Wakefield with shootings down 70 percent for the past month.

In the past the Mayor said that there was a chain of command that had to be gone through to change the deployment of police officers in a precinct. Now that red tape has been cut to allow for an almost instant redeployment of officers where they may be needed when problems pop up. The 47th Precinct has been assigned 26 additional officers for three months, and several other officers commonly refereed to as 'House Mouse Officers' have also been deployed into the streets of the precinct. In all there are 330 additional officers that have been sent to the 10 precincts in the 'Summer All Out' Program which began on June 8th. Other Bronx police precincts in this three month program are the 43rd, 44th, and 46th according to Bronx Assistant Chief Commanding Officer Larry Nikunen. 

Deputy Inspector Stevenson of the 47th Pct. had only praise for his police officers, and he thanked 47th Pct. Council President Elizabeth Gill for her help in getting his command the much needed manpower to reduce the high crime rate. 

Commissioner Bratton spoke of how the NYPD must keep coming up with new strategies to keep ahead of the bad guys. However when asked the question - that it looks like the first thing that the new street officers are doing is looking at car registration and inspection stickers when they arrive on their beat. I then said that to me it looks like these officers might have a ticket quota to fill. 

Commissioner Bratton fired back to me, 'Well that's what it looks like to you', and then stepped away from the podium without any real answer. I asked one of the new officers the same question, and was told if the situation warrants a summons it will be given. 47th Pct. Commanding Officer Stevenson said 'No Comment' when I asked him the same question.  

#NYPD #MayordeBlasio #Bratton #SummerAllOut #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Blaz hails record # of affordable housing units

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Blaz hails record # of affordable housing units: Blaz hails  record # of affordable housing units By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 13- Mayor deBlasio took a victory l...

Blaz hails record # of affordable housing units

Blaz hails record # of affordable housing units

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 13- Mayor deBlasio took a victory lap in the Bronx to hail the record number of affordable housing units created on his watch.

In an announcement in front of a 66-unit affordable housing building, located at 950 Summit Avenue (just north of Yankee Stadium), Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Bronx Borough President, and many local Bronx elected officials cheered that more affordable housing were created last year than since 1978. 

Mayor de Blasio said, “This is real progress, in real time, for real families. Together with the city council, community based organizations, and the private sector this will remain a city for everyone.” 

Speaker Mark-Viverito said, "It is imperative that we proactively protect affordability in our communities.” 

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said that his office will continue to work with the de Blasio administration to plan and build new affordable housing units that work for the people of the Bronx. 

Other Bronx elected officials on hand included Congressman Jose Serrano, State Senator Jose Marcos Serrano, Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, Assembly members Latoya Joiner (who thanked the Rent Guidelines Board for its rent freeze for one year leases), Michael Blake, Luis Sepulveda. HPD Commissioner Vicki Been said that surpassing the goal of 20,000 units this year is a testament to the work that is being done at HPD. HDC President Gary Rodney added that the record breaking 20,000 plus units demonstrates the the de Blasio Administration is achieving concrete results towards its ambitious vision of Housing New York.

The 66-unit building on Summit Avenue is currently under construction, and is slated for completion in a little over one year from now. A lottery system will be put into place to select the winners of the various income level tiered apartments which will be advertised a few months before construction on the building is finished. 

The goal of Mayor Bill de Blasio's affordable housing plan is to have 200,000 new or rehabilitated current affordable units by 2021 completed or in construction.  

#BilldeBlasio #AffordableHousing #Bronxnews

#Soccer NYCFC draw

NYC FC Toronto FC Draw

By Howard Goldin



BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 13- The Sunday contest between NYC FC and Toronto FC at Yankee Stadium was an opportunity for NYC, with a victory, to tie Toronto and the Red bulls for 5th, 6th and 7th place in the Eastern Conference standings with 23 points. The first six clubs in each of the two conferences qualify for the MLS playoffs. 



Experienced NYC goalkeeper Joshua Saunders described the result in a balanced manner, “We didn’t widen the gap, but we didn’t take advantage of the opportunity.” The clubs drew at 4, which gave each one point.



Having won four of its last five matches, NYC was hoping to continue its move upward. The recent success of the club encouraged fans to flock to Yankee Stadium for its latest game.  27,533 fans filled all the available seats. Many of the fans may have come because it was expected that the English superstar Frank Lampard would play in his first MLS match for NYC, but a recent injury caused his absence.



After missing an earlier shot, NYC Captain David Villa booted in the first goal of the match in the 17th minute to excite the fans. Twelve minutes later, NYC was awarded a second goal as Damian Perquis of Toronto kicked in an own goal.



The optimistic feeling of the NYC supporters quickly dissipated as Italian international Sebastian Giovinco began an offensive assault with three goals in less than 10 minutes. The “Atomic Ant”, whose diminutive size of 5 foot 4 and 130 pounds has not prevented him from becoming one of the top scorers in the league in his debut season.



His first goal was on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute. His next two goals were scored in the 40th and 43rd minutes. NYC coach Jason Kreis spoke with mixed feelings regarding his performance, “I think Giovinco is a fantastic player, but for him to get that much space and time is incomprehensible.” The 28-year-old veteran of nine years in the Italian league, most recently with championship club Juventus has as adapted easily to play in the MLS and the United States. He was chosen MLS Player of the Week in the 13th and 14th weeks of the current season.



The other superstar on the pitch, Villa, knotted the score at 3 with a penalty kick. Both he and Giovinco have reached double figures in goals this season.



The game ended in a draw as each club scored one again before the second half reached its conclusion.



Kreis called the contest, “It’s the type of game that fans love and coaches hate, a lot of loose play.”



#Soccer #NYCFC #YankeeStadium #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Latest Bronx News

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Latest Bronx News: The latest issue of Bronx News is out #Bronxnews https://sites.google.com/site/bronxnews/

Latest Bronx News

The latest issue of Bronx News is out

#Bronxnews

https://sites.google.com/site/bronxnews/

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Enough is Enough!

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Enough is Enough!: Enough is Enough! Community Demands End to Violence (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 10...

Enough is Enough!

Enough is Enough!

Community Demands End to Violence

(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 10- A group of community residents and clergy members gathered in the Allerton section in response to a recent shooting of a 20-year-old male. 

The group Stand Up to Violence (SUV) held a demonstration along Allerton Avenue and Wallace Avenue. The group’s planned rally had little effect on the days violence as Bronx homicide detectives were in Parkchester for most of the afternoon, after another 20 year-old was gunned down outside a playground with a toddler in his arms. The infant was unharmed. 

In fact the borough recorded no less than five homicides in the past week, but police officials say help is on the way in the form of more patrol officers on the street.

#NYPD #Shootings #Toddler #GunViolence #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): MASH star writes up growing up in Bx.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): MASH star writes up growing up in Bx.: MASH star writes up growing up in Bx. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. participated in a panel discussion about the new book, J...

MASH star writes up growing up in Bx.

MASH star writes up growing up in Bx.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. participated in a panel discussion about the new book, Just Kids From The Bronx, authored by Arlene Alda, at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Bay Plaza. Borough President Diaz, whose own childhood story is featured in the book, is pictured here with Mrs. Alda and her husband, award-winning actor Alan Alda. More information about the book can be found at justkidsfromthebronx.com/.

#AlanAlda #BronxBoroughRubenDiaz #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Gardner becomes an all star

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Gardner becomes an all star: #Gardner Becomes an All Star By Howard  Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 10- At the end  of the fourth inning of the game between the Y...

Gardner becomes an all star

#Gardner Becomes an All Star

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 10- At the end of the fourth inning of the game between the Yankees and the Oakland Athletics, an announcement on the Public Address system of Yankee Stadium was made that Brett Gardner was selected to the American League All-Star team. 

Gardner was chosen to the 34 man roster by American league manager Ned Yost to replace them injured Alex Gordon. Previous to his selection on Thursday, Gardner was one of five players on the “Final Vote’ ballot for the final spot on the roster of the 2015 A.L. team.

Gardner will join teammates Mark Teixeira and DillenBetances on the American League squad for Tuesday’s game at the great American ballpark in Cincinnati. The announcement was followed  by the chanting of Gardner’s name throughout the ballpark, which the outfielder responded to with a wave of his hand. He called the reaction of the fans “awesome”.

Gardner expressed surprise by his selection, “I was surprised. It caught me off guard. I had no idea. There’s a lot of great outfielders in the American League.”

In addition to being surprised, he was very excited by what he stated could be his final opportunity to receive this honor, ‘I’m sure next week will be a lot of fun. I’m really excited about it. I’ll be 32 years old next month. I don’t know how many opportunities I’ll get. I’m very grateful.” 

Asked if he’s looking forward to wearing the All-Star uniform, Gardner joked, “I never had a jersey with my name on the back. I’m not saying the Yankees should change.”

Gardner’s play in recent weeks earned him serious consideration by the fans voting and by the American League manager. During the month of June, Gardner batted a superlative .351 (39 for 111) and 18 of his hits were for extra bases. His 27 runs scored in that month led the majors. 

His best performance of the six game homestand that ended on Wednesday afternoon came in the final game against Oakland. He blasted his 10th home run of the season on the first pitch of his at bat in the first inning. The homer accounted for the first run of the contest. The run was the 76th scored by the Yankees in the first inning of a game in 2015, the highest run total by any team in a single inning this season. The Yankees have compiled a mark of 25-9 when scoring in the first.

Gardner singled in the third and fourth frames, the only other innings in which they scored on Thursday; the game ended the homestand on a high note with a 6-2 win. His fine hitting has raised Gardner’s season batting average to .303.

Yankee manager Joe Girardi was very pleased by what he believes was a very well-deserved choice, “He’s [Gardner] so important to our team. I believe he deserved to go and now he’s going.”

#BrettGardner #AllStarGame #Yankees #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Authorities Snuff Out $2M bootleg Smokes Ring

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Authorities Snuff Out $2M bootleg Smokes Ring: Authorities Snuff Out $2M bootleg Smokes Ring BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 9- District Attorney Robert Johnson announced multi...

Authorities Snuff Out $2M bootleg Smokes Ring

Authorities Snuff Out $2M bootleg Smokes Ring

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 9- District Attorney Robert Johnson announced multiple indictments of 20 people and six corporations containing 1,345 counts regarding a major smuggling operation that brought more than 44,000 untaxed cartons of cigarettes from Virginia to the Bronx during a single five-month period in 2014 alone. The participants are accused of evading more than $2.978 million in New York State and City taxes. The total maximum tax penalty, for New York City and State combined, is more than $35,768,000.

The various defendants face State felony charges ranging from Enterprise Corruption, Criminal Tax Fraud, and Money Laundering, to New York City Administrative Code violations of the Cigarette Tax laws.

After a two-and-a-half-year multi-agency investigation, 19 men and one woman were charged following simultaneous arrests in New York, Virginia, Connecticut and New Jersey. The Bronx County grand jury indictments were unsealed with the Supreme Court arraignment of several of the defendants in Part 60, before Justice Steven Barrett.  The following defendants are named in one or more indictment:

Cigarette smuggling is big business.  It is estimated that, in New York State, 58 percent of all cigarettes sold are untaxed, and smuggled in primarily from Virginia. With per pack prices topping $11 and more, bringing in untaxed cigarettes is very profitable – New York state and city taxes add $5.85 to each pack.

It is alleged in the indictment that the boss, Mohamed Mustafa, headed the operation by acquiring cigarettes for distribution from Virginia, storing those cigarettes at 2118 Matthews Avenue in Morris Park and other locations in the Bronx, and by controlling the distribution of cigarettes to the New York City area without paying New York State or City tobacco taxes, thereby generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit proceeds for himself and other members of the enterprise. His lieutenant, Hiyad Chaib, is alleged to have assisted the criminal enterprise in all aspects of the operation, and would serve as the central contact for the employees and associates when Mustafa was away.

Mustafa and Chaib determined the New York-based distributors to whom they would sell cigarettes, the prices the

distributors had to pay for cigarettes, and the times and locations at which the distributors would exchange money for cigarettes, it is further alleged. They also controlled the storage facilities and both of them actively answered a “business line” to collect orders and arrange deliveries. Each week, almost 2,000 cartons of cigarettes (400,000 cigarettes) would pass through the enterprise costing the state over $100,000 in tax revenue. The total tax fraud is estimated to be close to $3 million; total maximum tax penalties, if the defendants are convicted, will reach nearly $36 million.

Indictment papers also describe how Mustafa and Chaib originally acquired the majority of the cigarettes they distributed in the Bronx from suppliers Rabih Saba and Moeen Khan, residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, who owned and managed a chain of mattress stores (“The Mattress Place”) and dollar stores around Richmond, Virginia. Indeed, Saba and Khan used their Virginia businesses, in part, as collection and distribution centers for cigarettes purchased in Virginia with only the low Virginia cigarette tax, and thereafter controlled the distribution of

the cigarettes to the New York City area without anyone associated with the Enterprise paying New York State or City tobacco taxes for those cigarettes. They also used their business and personal accounts to transfer money from the Bronx and Manhattan to them in Virginia.

To generate said money, Saba and Khan are accused of forming a network of cigarette buyers in Virginia who would visit Costco, Sam’s Club, Wawa, and other retail sellers of cigarettes, to purchase cartons of cigarettes in a large enough quantity to make trafficking them to New York profitable. Saba and Khan arranged with Mustafa and Chaib for near-daily deliveries to New York. Some of the proceeds were also sent to a number of the defendants’ home countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Money seized from the operation totals more than $100,000.

Operation Smoke Brake is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys W. Dyer Halpern, Jessica-Deanna Lupo, and Caitlin Carroll of the Arson/Auto/Economic Crimes Bureau, which is under the supervision of Counsel to the Investigations Division Mary Jo Blanchard, Bureau Chief William Zelenka and Executive A.D.A. Thomas Leahy.

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