Speed Kills

Factor in West Farms Crash Death

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 30- After an initial investigation the NYPD says speed was a key factor in the death of a young man driving along West Farms Road in the Claremont Village section.

Rescue personnel were called to 1759 - 63 West Farms Road, where a 1997 Saturn jumped the curb and struck a light-pole at 2:35 a.m., on July 26. The victim was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he later died.

Police vehicles would shutdown both directions at E. 174 Street as members of the NYPD Highway Patrol performed their investigation.

An unidentified brother of the victim was watching the officers, now taking photographs of the vehicle, and the debris that now littered the roadway-- blurted out, "I'm just trying to find out what happened."

No doubt bewildered how the vehicle wrapped around the pole in a near circle from the direction he was apparently coming from.

The teen could not say where his brother was coming from or what he had been doing that night. He walked off, shuffling across E. 174 Street, his departing words, "I have to go home and be with my mother."

Police would later identify the victim as Shalik Wilson, 22, of Longfellow Avenue.

After a preliminary investigation, one police source stated that speed, "played a major factor," as it's estimated the vehicle was traveling, "over 60-miles-per-hour."

Contrary to initial reports that the vehicle was traveling southbound, the source continued, "It looks like he was going northbound... crossed over the yellow line and then hit a light-pole."

The road that runs parallel with the Sheridan Expressway is a dimly-lit, dark desolate and winding road that has claimed the life of at least one other driver, over the past five-years.

Asked if drugs or alcohol could have been a contributing factor, the source added, "We have to wait for a toxicology report, we don't have that yet."

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Dominican Parade

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Dominican Parade: Politics and pride mixed during the annual Bronx Dominican Parade. Mayoral candidates Christine Quinn, John Liu and Adolfo Carrion stumped f...

Dominican Parade

Politics and pride mixed during the annual Bronx Dominican Parade. Mayoral candidates Christine Quinn, John Liu and Adolfo Carrion stumped for the mayor's race along the parade route on the Grand Concourse. Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. met Bronxites at the parade.

Photos by Gary Quintal

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Dominican Parade

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Dominican Parade: Politics and pride mixed during the annual Bronx Dominican Parade. Mayoral candidates Christine Quinn, John Liu and Adolfo Carrion stump...

Jeter's Back with a Bang

But Yanks Still have a lot of Work to Do

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 29- They needed the win, with or without Derek Jeter back in the lineup Sunday afternoon. The New York Yankees got the walk-off win in the ninth inning from Rafael Soriano. For the moment, as they depart for a road trip to Los Angeles, San Diego and Chicago, the Yankees are feeling good about themselves.

They could not afford being swept by first place Tampa Bay. And the feeling was, after that Derek Jeter home run in the first inning, this would be the game. One game, for the moment the Yankees felt good about themselves after their 6-5 win in the Bronx.

The right handed bat, one they have lacked, also returned. Alfonso Soriano in his third game back in pinstripes goes 4-for-5 and a home run. Indeed, the Yankees have a better lineup and much different with a healthy Jeter at bat and on the field. And with Soriano, the Yankees also believe they have the right handed bat they need.

“Being able to win one like that especially going on the road is important,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi who was the first to show a sign of relief when Jeter deposited a ball to left field off Mike Moore in his first at bat after his second stint on the disabled list.

It was nice to see Jeter smile going around the bases.

Girardi knows, as does every Yankees fan about the significance of Jeter in the lineup. He is the captain, and one of those right handed bats that have been missed which have made this an offensive strapped and incognito lineup.

“He’s a winner, his presence,” commented Girardi. “To get a big day from him and Soriano, to be able to do what we did today was important.”

And getting home runs, the first two for the Yankees in their last nine games, that was important. “It helps put some quick tallies on the board,” said Girardi. “It changes our lineup.” Yes it does. Instead of four or six left handed hitters in a row, the Yankees now have right handed bats in between.

“It’s was fun, I worked hard to get back on the field,” said Jeter who said the home run gave his team a run and possibly the jolt they needed. He did not have fun his first time back going down again, after three at bats in the Bronx and quickly hitting the disabled list a second time with a strained quad.

It was his first home run and run batted in, and as late in the season as it is, any contribution from the Yankees and the captain is an added improvement from what has been coming from this lineup.

“I said, thank God because I did not want to play extra innings because I was tired. I was happy for Sori,” said Jeter about the walk-off hit from his teammate.

Soon, Curtis Granderson will return and add to the list of welcome back from the walking wounded. The Alex Rodriguez soap opera will continue because Major league Baseball is expected to hand out suspensions of more players with the latest steroid scandal.

A-Rod is expected to get a healthy sentence, though the appeal process could get him back in the lineup and playing ball in the Bronx. And as much as the Yankees would rather have the A-Rod stigma go away, if he is healthy and productive, the complexion of the Yankees lineup changes as could the race in the American League east.

But Jeter and Soriano, hitting home runs in the same game as teammates for the first time since 2003, was the moment Girardi has been waiting for.

They are a rejuvenated team with additions in the lineup. At the same time the Yankees have a lot of work to do, as they dug a hole for themselves with the walking wounded and makeshift lineups Girardi has put on the field.

For now, as the Yankees depart on a long road trip they can feel good about things, seven games out of first place and in the wild card hunt. A major reason why, the Captain Derek Jeter is back in the lineup and healthy with 57 games left to play.

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

Hideki Matsui Retires as a Yankee in the Bronx

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 29- The two most prestigious position players to come from Japan to the major leagues are Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki. Interestingly but not surprisingly, the two superstars came to wear the Yankees pinstripes. Suzuki and pitcher Hiroki Kuroda are integral parts of the 2013 Yankees, but an icon of the recent past, Matsui, was at the center of attention at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Matsui began his professional baseball career in his native land by signing with the Yomiuri Giants after earning great prestige as a high school player. He received numerous honors in the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) in his 10 years with the Giants. Among his awards were: three-time MVP in the Central League, Japan Games MVP, All-Star in each of his last nine seasons and an MVP in three NPB All-Star Games.

Having achieved so much in his decade in the NPB, Matsui signed a contract with the New York Yankees on December 9, 2002 to play on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. Of that day, he reflected in his pre-game press conference on Sunday, “That was probably the greatest moment in my career.”

Matsui lived up to the advance build-up in his first game as a Yankee. He singled in his first MLB at bat and blasted a grand slam homer later in the contest. He and current Yankee Ichiro Suzuki, by their professionalism and exceptional talent, raised the respect for the level of Japanese baseball in the eyes of American fans.

Matsui, as a Yankee, continued to play at the same level as he had in Japan. He was an American League All-Star in his first two years, 2003 and 2004. He left Japan holding a consecutive game streak of 1,250 and played in his first 518 games with the Yankees. Only a fractured left wrist suffered in the outfield ended his streak.
The Japanese superstar concluded his seventh and final season in New York much as he began his first. He drove in six runs in the concluding sixth game of the 2009 World Series and ended his Yankee tenure as the World Series MVP.

Matsui’s final three seasons in the majors were disappointing contrasted with his success as a Yankee. On December 27, 2012, he announced his retirement as a player. A large retirement ceremony was held at the Tokyo Dome on May 5, 2013.
Matsui’s parents and brother were present at the tasteful ceremony held at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. At a pre-game press conference, the former Yankee outfielder signed a minor league contract with the Yankees. On the field, he signed his voluntary retirement papers, so he could officially end his playing career with New York. Yankee captain Derek Jeter, on behalf of the organization, presented a matted, framed 2009 #55 jersey to Matsui. The two were then joined on the field by the members of the 2013 Yankees.

The Yankee icon spoke very strongly of his years as a Yankee. “I’ve always aspired to be a New York Yankee.” His most memorable moments in pinstripes were “winning the World Series in 2009 and the ALCS in 2003.” That response was not surprising to hear from a man who also said, “All I really focused on was trying to win the World Series here. If the fans took something from that it was an honor.” Of his retirement as a Yankee, he proclaimed, “I’m so humbled and honored to retire as a Yankee. There’s nothing more fulfilling than that. I think that moment I will never forget.”

P.S.-The good feeling in Yankee Stadium generated by the presence of Matsui continued during the game between the Yanks and Rays. Matsui’s countryman, Suzuki, brought great joy to the large percentage of Japanese fans in the park by hitting successfully four times in four trips to the plate. Derek Jeter, his teammate for all seven years with the Yankees, homered on the first pitch he saw. Yet, when asked about the homer, the classy captain responded, “This is Matsui’s day. The focus should be on him. I’m happy I was able to be here for his game,” The walk-off single that won the game for the Yankees was hit by Alfonso Soriano, a teammate of Matsui in 2003, in his third game back with the Yankees.

Chris Archer Blanks Yanks, 1-0

By Howard Godlin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 28- A very large crowd, 43,424, took advantage of a beautiful Saturday afternoon in July to relax outdoors and enjoy a major league baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Those who are pleased by viewing an extremely well-pitched, low scoring mound duel that moves quickly were in the right place on Saturday. Those who prefer high run totals boosted by home runs would have been disappointed by Saturday’s ballgame.

The two young hurlers, Ivan Nova, 26, and Chris Archer, 24, who started, easily handled the vast majority of batters they faced during the ballgame. Baserunners were few and far between.

The Rays scored the only run in the contest in the top of the sixth. Appropriately for such a masterly pitched game by both starters, the run was achieved by “small ball.”
With one out, James Loney raised his major league leading road batting average with his second single of the game. Loney is currently batting .371 in road games. The first sacker was forced at second on a ground ball by Ben Zobrist, who quickly stole second. Matt Joyce walked and Kelly Johnson drove in the lone run of the game with a single to center.

Before the game, Tampa skipper Joe Maddon decided to start Johnson in left rather than Sean Rodriguez, who started the previous night’s contest. After the game, the genial manager of the Rays commented, “The players make you look good.”

The loss was the second straight for Nova, neither of which he deserved to receive as the Yanks did not score a run in either contest. You cannot get a victory if your team is shutout. He only yielded the one run and six hits in seven innings.
Maddon described the game in the following honest words, “It was like a mid-60’s game at Yankee Stadium. It was incredible to watch, but our guy was just a little better.” Veteran catcher Yadier Molina of Tampa said of Nova, “He was really sharp today, curveballs, sliders.”

The Tampa starter has pitched outstandingly since his first start against the Yankees on June 23. The same two starting pitchers began that game with the win going to Archer and the Rays, 3-2. From that date, Archer is 5-0 and the Rays were victorious in all seven of his starts. The youngster gave up only seven earned runs in 48 innings during that period. His skills have improved as time has passed. He has only yielded one earned run during his last four starts (31 innings).

On Saturday, he threw his second complete game shutout in his last three starts. He did not walk a batter and only two Yankees recorded base hits, Lyle Overbay, a single in the fifth and Brett Gardner, a double in the sixth.

Maddon’s praise for his sterling rookie seemed endless, “Overall, it was a great mix with overwhelming stuff. He’s really growing and doing it against some really good teams. He was just [a success] waiting to happen. He’s in control of his emotions.”
Archer spoke about his emotions after the victory, “Stupendously amazing is how it feels. Our team’s just rolling along now [21 wins in the last 24 games]. It’s more fun now playing baseball than at any level.”

He gave credit for the advice given to him by Curt Schilling two days ago, “Schilling advised me to have a purpose for every pitch. I found myself doing that today.”

Although the pitching was superlative, the lack of Yankee hitting is disturbing to the team’s rooters. They have been held to two hits on four occasions in 2013.The Yankees have not homered in the last nine games. That homerless streak is the longest since 1984, when the Yanks hit no homers in 10 straight games.

The defeat placed the Yankees in their most precarious position of the season, eight games out of first place.

On Sunday, Mike Moore (14-3) will attempt to break the tie with Bártolo Colón and Max Scherzer and become the undisputed major league win leader. He will start against Phil Hughes (4-9) in the final game of the series and short homestand at Yankee Stadium. Prior to the game, there will be a special retirement ceremony to honor former Yankee Hideki Matsui.