What has made Chris Young a hero in the Bronx?
#ChrisYoung
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 12- So what has been the difference for Chris Young since moving to the other side of town with the New York Yankees? Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium he was a triple shy of the cycle and drove in two runs with a solo home run and RBI double in the eighth inning, as the Yankees got the comeback win over Tanpa Bay.
Young did something he was not able to do with the cross-town Mets, a one-year free agent deal of $7.5 million that led to his release on August 15th.
Then there were the heroics Thursday night. Young was the hero breaking up the no-hit bid of Rays’ right-hander Alex Cobb with a double in the eighth inning. And it got better.
Young became the latest Yankees hero in their last at bat when he drove a 96-mile fastball to the stands in left. The sixth walk-off home run of his career and three-run shot kept the Yankees slim playoff chances alive for another day.
So here is the prevailing question: Why has Chris Young suddenly found the magic in Yankees pinstripes when it appeared he was a complete failure on the other side of town?
Baseball is that game of questions and will always leave one perplexed. Young, and of course those Mets fans who wanted him out of town, may also be asking the same question.
Ask the manager. Joe Girardi has been around the game long enough to also try and answer the perplexing question. And Chris Young may not even have a conception about his revivial with a different team in New York, though a change of uniform as they say can sometimes be good for a ballplayer.
In this case, a change and move from Flushing to the Bronx has apparently been the answer for Chris Young. One can debate that the dimensions of Yankee Stadium are a perfect formula for Young, as opposed to the supposed you can’t drive the ball theory that is not made for the hitter at Citi Field.
"He's done an awful lot,” Girardi said. “They said he was a talented player who had a rough year this year. It's amazing how things can turn around for a player. That's a huge hit for us."
A huge hit for Young, one he could not get in Flushing for a good portion of his baseball season in New York. The fact he has become a hero in the Bronx has Mets fans offering their displeasure on social media.
But in the end, Chris Young still deserved an opportunity with the Yankees or another team, whether to make a statement for himself, that his time at Citi Field was a fluke and that the skills were still there.
And it is almost certain that Girardi will have Young inserted again in left field Friday afternoon, in one or two games of a day-night doubleheader down in Baltimore. The Yankees need this type of production with 18-games remaining, trailing by four-games for that second wild card. Young has found the stroke and could be a catalyst to getting runs they have had trouble compiling all season.
“It feels like you’re floating on a cloud,” Young said about the home run, trotting the bases and getting mobbed by his new teammates at home plate. He did not experience that during his time with the Mets, and this new opportunity is like floating on a cloud.
Again as he said the night before, “This is baseball. Funny how things work out. It did not work out with them (Mets) and I get this opportunity. The fans have to understand this is a business and now I am here trying to be a part of helping this team get to the post season.”
So the other prevailing question is: Did Mets GM Sandy Alderson pull the plug too soon on Young and why was Young signed early during that free agent period for a minimal price when power hitter Nelson Cruz, who signed a late and lucrative deal with the Orioles was still on the board?
The issue of Cruz not coming to the Mets, and Young signing for less money to be an important cog in the Mets lineup, is of course always a matter of baseball economics from the Mets point of view.
The Yankees, on the other hand, had nothing to lose. Give Young a minor league stint and the Mets are picking up a good portion of that contract now that he is on the big league roster.
But Chris Young has done better with his new surroundings. It is baseball and why they call this a funny game ,where the unknown is bound to happen. He is happy and so are the Yankees as they have found a productive bat in their lineup at a crucuial and important time.
Mets manager Terry Collins said more than once in his post game meetings with the media about the struggles of Chris Young, “He will become the hitter we all know and it is a matter of adjusting.”
Chris Young may not know the reason for his late season heroics with the Yankees. What matters though are the heroics coming at the right time for a team on the other side of town,
Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso www.newyorksportsexaminer,com
Friday, September 12, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Spark of life for Yankees?
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Spark of life for Yankees?: A night of success for Chris Young in pinstripes By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 11-Chris Young never lived up to expectation...
Spark of life for Yankees?
A night of success for Chris Young in pinstripes
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 11-Chris Young never lived up to expectations on the other side of town with the New York Mets- perhaps one of the major failures of a free agent in Flushing with a one-year $7.5 million contract. He became public enemy number one with the fans at Citi Field until his release on August 15th.
A week or so later the Yankees signed him to a minor league contract and when rosters expanded September 1 he was in the Bronx and on the bench. It did not take him long to make an impact for the Yankees who are fighting to stay alive for a post season spot as the second wild card in the American League.
Young never avoided the media on the other side of town when he had an 0-for-4 night, or taking the collar four times. Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium after going 3-for-4 with two runs batted in, and a game tying home run, meeting the media was easier.
After the Yankees come from behind 8-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays that kept their playoff hopes alive, and the first time this season they overcame a four run deficit for a win, Young spoke freely and did not have any negative thoughts about his former team.
And in case you did not notice, all of a sudden the Mets have quietly got back into the NL wild card hunt after sweeping three games from the Rockies and winning seven of their last eight games.
“The opportunity to get back in the game was huge for us,” Young said. His first home run as a Yankee in the fourth inning tied the game and made him the second player to hit a home run during the season as a player for the Yankees and Mets joining Dave Kingman in 1977.
Young was not aware that he made some New York baseball history. He is content and all of a sudden became an important contributor in the Yankees outfield that has been decimated with injuries.
Once a crowded outfield when the rosters expanded, Young got the call to start in left because Carlos Beltran was scratched from the lineup with a recurring right elbow issue that may shut him down in the remaining games of the season.
Brett Gardner has been out of the lineup the past week with a bad right calf and Martin Prado, who can play the outfield is day-to-day with a bad hamstring.
“It’s a fresh start for me,” Young said. “Whatever happened in the past is not on my mind. You do your own and help this team as soon as possible.”
He has adapted to being on the other side of town and could see more playing time, though fans of the Mets will never understand what went wrong ont he other side of town. Maybe it is the awareness of putting on Yankees pinstripes, because what Young did Wednesday night was something that never came to fruition wearing the other New York baseball uniform.
With the Mets, Young batted .205, hit eight-home runs with 28 runs batted in during a span of 88-games.
“You’re in your own bubble here ,” he said. And about his former team, Young admits he is not paying attention though he keeps in touch with some of the guys he used to go to war with.
“Great group of guys (Mets) over there. It doesn’t suprise me at all. When you have a good major league team anything can happen. I dont take anything away from those guys over there.
Yes, Chris Young was praising his former team and from the comments there is a sense of loyalty and belief that the Mets are capable of pulling off a marvelous run to that wild card. Though that is highly improbable based on what the Mets accomplish the next four games at Citi Field against the first place Washington Nationals.
Said Young, “Think if I was in the same situation with another team to play with the Yankees and be in postiion is a great feeling. To be surrounded by all these other great players is the main focus.”
“Fun to see Chris contribute here and make a difference,” said Mark Teixeira who drove in the Yankees go ahead run in the fifth inning with his 19th career triple.
Young was not going to hide from the question, his new surroundings in the Bronx. “Just worrying about where I am now,” he said, and he was aware of the role of being on a crowded bench,
“Opportunity has come because guys are down. When you get your opportunity you try and do your part and try and make a difference.”
And on this night, Chris Young made a difference for the New York Yankees and for one more game gave their slim playoff chances some hope.
Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso www.newyorksportsexaminer.com
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 11-Chris Young never lived up to expectations on the other side of town with the New York Mets- perhaps one of the major failures of a free agent in Flushing with a one-year $7.5 million contract. He became public enemy number one with the fans at Citi Field until his release on August 15th.
A week or so later the Yankees signed him to a minor league contract and when rosters expanded September 1 he was in the Bronx and on the bench. It did not take him long to make an impact for the Yankees who are fighting to stay alive for a post season spot as the second wild card in the American League.
Young never avoided the media on the other side of town when he had an 0-for-4 night, or taking the collar four times. Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium after going 3-for-4 with two runs batted in, and a game tying home run, meeting the media was easier.
After the Yankees come from behind 8-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays that kept their playoff hopes alive, and the first time this season they overcame a four run deficit for a win, Young spoke freely and did not have any negative thoughts about his former team.
And in case you did not notice, all of a sudden the Mets have quietly got back into the NL wild card hunt after sweeping three games from the Rockies and winning seven of their last eight games.
“The opportunity to get back in the game was huge for us,” Young said. His first home run as a Yankee in the fourth inning tied the game and made him the second player to hit a home run during the season as a player for the Yankees and Mets joining Dave Kingman in 1977.
Young was not aware that he made some New York baseball history. He is content and all of a sudden became an important contributor in the Yankees outfield that has been decimated with injuries.
Once a crowded outfield when the rosters expanded, Young got the call to start in left because Carlos Beltran was scratched from the lineup with a recurring right elbow issue that may shut him down in the remaining games of the season.
Brett Gardner has been out of the lineup the past week with a bad right calf and Martin Prado, who can play the outfield is day-to-day with a bad hamstring.
“It’s a fresh start for me,” Young said. “Whatever happened in the past is not on my mind. You do your own and help this team as soon as possible.”
He has adapted to being on the other side of town and could see more playing time, though fans of the Mets will never understand what went wrong ont he other side of town. Maybe it is the awareness of putting on Yankees pinstripes, because what Young did Wednesday night was something that never came to fruition wearing the other New York baseball uniform.
With the Mets, Young batted .205, hit eight-home runs with 28 runs batted in during a span of 88-games.
“You’re in your own bubble here ,” he said. And about his former team, Young admits he is not paying attention though he keeps in touch with some of the guys he used to go to war with.
“Great group of guys (Mets) over there. It doesn’t suprise me at all. When you have a good major league team anything can happen. I dont take anything away from those guys over there.
Yes, Chris Young was praising his former team and from the comments there is a sense of loyalty and belief that the Mets are capable of pulling off a marvelous run to that wild card. Though that is highly improbable based on what the Mets accomplish the next four games at Citi Field against the first place Washington Nationals.
Said Young, “Think if I was in the same situation with another team to play with the Yankees and be in postiion is a great feeling. To be surrounded by all these other great players is the main focus.”
“Fun to see Chris contribute here and make a difference,” said Mark Teixeira who drove in the Yankees go ahead run in the fifth inning with his 19th career triple.
Young was not going to hide from the question, his new surroundings in the Bronx. “Just worrying about where I am now,” he said, and he was aware of the role of being on a crowded bench,
“Opportunity has come because guys are down. When you get your opportunity you try and do your part and try and make a difference.”
And on this night, Chris Young made a difference for the New York Yankees and for one more game gave their slim playoff chances some hope.
Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso www.newyorksportsexaminer.com
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Senator Klein Re-Elected
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Senator Klein Re-Elected: Riverdale Report By Robert Press Senator Klein Re-Elected BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 10- While this column is being written be...
Senator Klein Re-Elected
Riverdale Report
By Robert Press
Senator Klein Re-Elected
BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 10- While this column is being written before Primary day 2014, the headline should be correct.
I say it that way because in the 34th State Senate race challenger, Oliver Koppell, turned into almost everything that he had accused Senator Klein of being. From the very first word in the debates to the mailings by candidate Oliver Koppell, he attacked Senator Jeff Klein since Oliver Koppell had no record to run on. Senator Klein did not have enough time in the debates or room on his mailings to extol his proven track record, which reached new heights for the 34th Senate District, New York City, and New York State in the past two years. He has proven that he deserves to be re-elected and received the endorsement of almost everyone, and almost every union.
In a mailing from candidate Koppell that disturbed me the most, there was the four-page review of his endorsements all 11 or 12 that is, if the Riverdale Press really endorsed candidate Koppell. The list is unimpressive especially with Betsy Gotbaum who had to be the worst Public Advocate, and the reason then Mayor Bloomberg wanted to get rid of the office at the top. There is a photo of candidate Koppell at a rally, but it is of candidate Koppell running for Attorney General with the words State Senate under the photo. By the way, Oliver Koppell was never elected Attorney General; he was anointed by the New York State Assembly to fill the vacant position. The words 'Vote to end corruption in Albany' are also below of the AG photo, and we see how good a job AG Koppell did.
As for the Riverdale Press endorsement, the back page of the mailing has the New York Times endorsement – 'We enthusiastically support Mr. Koppel in this district'. Right under the New York Times endorsement is the Riverdale Press editorial 'Editorial: The honorable Mr. Koppell', with the words at the bottom of the page saying 'On September 9th Vote for Oliver Koppell.' In checking the September 4th Riverdale Press (the last before Tuesday's Democratic primary) the headline of the editorial reads 'Yes, you must vote.' In the very last paragraph they say that they never endorse a candidate, and upon rechecking the Koppell mailer carefully I noticed the date of the Riverdale Press supposedly endorsement is November 7, 2013. Also in the September 4th paper however are two half page ads for candidate Koppell that appear in no other local newspaper. One on the back page, and one on the page opposite the editorial where letters to the editor are usually found. The question is, did the Riverdale Press silently endorse Oliver Koppell as its many articles the past weeks would also indicate, or did candidate Oliver Koppell try to device the voters into thinking that the paper had endorsed him?
The movie in the park (Vinmont Park) for September 6th was canceled due to the alert of heavy winds and rain in the forecast that day. There was no mention of any rescheduling of the movie.
Finally, last week the Broadway Mall at West 230th street opened up with Aldi market welcoming in the shoppers. Aldi is a store that features lower prices on most items, but the catch is that there is a very limited supply of non store branded items, and no fresh meat, fish, deli, or bakery departments. Boxes are cut open and stacked for display. Many customers liked the lower prices, but some also said that miss the brands they but most. To see photos of the new Aldi market you can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com.
If you have any political news that you want to share, any comments about this column, or have an event that you would like to have listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Playoff Dreams Slippin' Away for Yanks
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Playoff Dreams Slippin' Away for Yanks: Playoff Dreams Slippin' Away for Yanks #Yankees Lose to Rays, 4-3; Playoff Opportunity Diminishes By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK...
Playoff Dreams Slippin' Away for Yanks
Playoff Dreams Slippin' Away for Yanks
#Yankees Lose to Rays, 4-3; Playoff Opportunity Diminishes
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 10-For the Yankees to qualify for the 2014 playoffs, it is necessary that they win almost every game. Unfortunately for them, they are losing nearly every day. The 4-3 defeat on Tuesday night was their third loss in the last four games and their sixth in the last nine.
After the game ended, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi spoke clearly of the meaning of the game’s result, “It leaves us in a pretty big hole. We have to win every day.” The loss put the Yankees 5.5 games behind two teams tied for the second Wild Card spot.
That Chris Archer was the winning pitcher should not come as a great surprise to anyone who has looked at the sophomore major leaguer’s record against the New Yorkers. The 25 year-old has become known as a “Yankee killer” based on his rare degree of success against them.
The game began with the North Carolina native being one of only 13 pitchers whose team won each of his first five starts against the Yankees. The game concluded with him being one of only six pitchers whose team won its first six starts against the Yankees. The most recent to accomplish that feat was Greg Hibbard of the White Sox during 1988-91.
Archer retired the first nine Yankee batters before giving up a home run to Jacoby Ellsbury on his first pitch in the fourth frame. A home run is a rarity for Archer to surrender. It was only his 10th in the 173.2 innings he has pitched this season. He ranks third in the American League in fewest homers given up per 9 innings.
His most difficult inning followed next as the first five Yankees reached base, two of them scoring. After hitting Chase Headley, the lead-off batter in the fifth, with a pitch, the next four Yankee batters (Ichiro Suzuki, Stephen Drew, Chris Young and Ellsbury) singled. The inning ended with a controversial out at the plate and a quick double play.
While many observers in the park believed catcher Ryan Hanigan illegally blocked the plate, Yankee third base coach Rob Thomson accepted the responsibility for sending the runner (Drew) home with no outs and two other runners on base, “It wasn’t a good decision. I should have stopped him.”
While many Yankee fans focus on that one play as the reason for the loss, it should also be known that starter Hiroki Kuroda, in his shortest stint of the year, 3.1 innings, gave up four runs and nine hits. The Yankees also failed to rebound late in the game as 12 of the last 13 Yankee batters were retired.
#Yankees Lose to Rays, 4-3; Playoff Opportunity Diminishes
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 10-For the Yankees to qualify for the 2014 playoffs, it is necessary that they win almost every game. Unfortunately for them, they are losing nearly every day. The 4-3 defeat on Tuesday night was their third loss in the last four games and their sixth in the last nine.
After the game ended, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi spoke clearly of the meaning of the game’s result, “It leaves us in a pretty big hole. We have to win every day.” The loss put the Yankees 5.5 games behind two teams tied for the second Wild Card spot.
That Chris Archer was the winning pitcher should not come as a great surprise to anyone who has looked at the sophomore major leaguer’s record against the New Yorkers. The 25 year-old has become known as a “Yankee killer” based on his rare degree of success against them.
The game began with the North Carolina native being one of only 13 pitchers whose team won each of his first five starts against the Yankees. The game concluded with him being one of only six pitchers whose team won its first six starts against the Yankees. The most recent to accomplish that feat was Greg Hibbard of the White Sox during 1988-91.
Archer retired the first nine Yankee batters before giving up a home run to Jacoby Ellsbury on his first pitch in the fourth frame. A home run is a rarity for Archer to surrender. It was only his 10th in the 173.2 innings he has pitched this season. He ranks third in the American League in fewest homers given up per 9 innings.
His most difficult inning followed next as the first five Yankees reached base, two of them scoring. After hitting Chase Headley, the lead-off batter in the fifth, with a pitch, the next four Yankee batters (Ichiro Suzuki, Stephen Drew, Chris Young and Ellsbury) singled. The inning ended with a controversial out at the plate and a quick double play.
While many observers in the park believed catcher Ryan Hanigan illegally blocked the plate, Yankee third base coach Rob Thomson accepted the responsibility for sending the runner (Drew) home with no outs and two other runners on base, “It wasn’t a good decision. I should have stopped him.”
While many Yankee fans focus on that one play as the reason for the loss, it should also be known that starter Hiroki Kuroda, in his shortest stint of the year, 3.1 innings, gave up four runs and nine hits. The Yankees also failed to rebound late in the game as 12 of the last 13 Yankee batters were retired.
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