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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Pine tar controversy 30 years later

Hall of Famer George Brett Remembers Historic Game at Yankee Stadium

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 16- Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett was recently named interim hitting coach for the Kansas City Royals, the team on which he played all of his 21 years in the major leagues. Brett began his career in the big leagues at the age of 20 in 1973 and concluded it at the close of the 1993 season after having amassed a large array of on-the-field achievements and earned a plethora of honors.

Brett and the rest of the 2013 Royals were in the Bronx from July 8-11 for a four-game set with the Yankees. As the series was the only visit of the Royals to New York this year, the 30th anniversary of an unusual game between the Royals and Yanks was remembered. As Brett was the center of the controversial contest, he held a press conference at Yankee Stadium to reminisce of that day.

It’s strange that a baseball player who was elected to the Hall of Fame with 98 percent of the vote and whose achievements include a .390 batting average in 1980, being elected to the All-Star team of the American League 13 times, a World Series batting average of .373, an American League Championship Series batting average of .340, the American League MVP Award in 1980, a lifetime total of 3,154 hits and 1,596 runs batted in should be most remembered as the “tar guy.” He remarked, “It’s what I’m known for.”

The rivalry between the two clubs in 1983 was intense as they had battled in the A.L.C.S. in four of the previous seven seasons. Brett talked of his animosity towards the Yanks but also of how much he enjoyed the challenge of playing against them, especially in New York, “I loved playing here and I loved it when the fans booed me, which they did often. I loved the challenge of going out there and playing against a great Yankee team.”

The unusual game of which Brett spoke began on July 24 but did not conclude until August 18. The Yanks led, 4-3, until the ninth when Brett blasted a two-run homer off reliever “Goose” Gossage, now also in the Baseball Hall of Fame and a friend of Brett’s. The homer was followed by the Yankee manager, Billy Martin, never a stranger to an argument, exiting the dugout to complain to umpire Tim McClelland that Brett was in violation to MLB rules by having more than 18 inches of pine tar covering his bat.

The controversy intensified when the umpire disallowed the home run and called Brett out for violating baseball rules. Brett, enraged, rushed from the dugout and had to be restrained from physically attacking the ump. The decision resulted in a Yankees 4-3 victory.

The decision was overturned several days later by American League President Lee MacPhail. He ruled the home run counted and the game would resume with two out in the top of the ninth and the Royals leading, 5-4. The game continued on August 18. Several minutes later, the game concluded without a change in the 5-4 score.
Brett, three decades later, now looks at the circumstances very differently than he did during his outburst of anger, “To be remembered as a guy that hit that hit a home run off one of the great closers of all time, “Goose” Gossage with a bat that was, I guess, suspected of being illegal and proven not to be, and then having it reversed. I’m known for something positive.”

Anyone who saw George Brett play also can remember that they witnessed one of the great major leaguers of his generation and a player truly deserving of his Hall of Fame status.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Shot in the Back

Man Gunned Down in Mott Haven;
Third Shooting in Seven Months

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 15- A popular Mott Haven man was shot in the back as he returned home from a late night bar-b-que, the third reported shooting over a five-block stretch of Brook Avenue since January.

Cops were called at 2:30 a.m. on July 14 to the Dr. Ramon E. Betances Houses, located at 400 Brook Avenue, where Samuel Gonzalez, 27, was discovered. Gonzalez had been shot three times in the back at close range.

Gonzalez was transported to Lincoln Hospital where he died a short time later.

Multiple sources say police were looking for a black male between 20 and 25-years old, wearing blue shorts and a white tank-top.

One suspect was stopped on Jackson Avenue, but one police source maintains that, that suspect was released after being questioned at the 40th Precinct.

One detective investigating the case was asked if he thought the killing had to do with the not-guilty verdict in the racially-charged George Zimmerman case in Florida that was announced a short time before the shooting.

The detective replied, "He had left a bar-b-que and had met two girls. One of the girls noticed two guys standing on the corner... when she heard someone running up behind them," when the shots rang out.

The investigator revealed that the witness was unable to get a good look at the gunman, whose face was covered with a hat. The three slugs all went through and exited Gonzalez' body.

The detective added that there were no surveillance cameras in the area, but police already had the suspects first name, adding, "We haven't put a face with the name just yet."

Meanwhile, a large crowd kept vigil outside of Gonzalez' home and uniformed police were on hand as members of the crowd quickly became hostile to arriving members of the media.

Police say Gonzalez, who lived at Brook Avenue and E. 139 Street, had an extensive police record with more than 20 arrests for petty crimes, mostly drug possession or drug sales.

On June 2, Ivan Martinez, 21, was shot once in the head at E. 139 Street and Brook Avenue, after a dispute with two men. One published report of the incident stated police chased the suspects north on Brook Avenue, but lost them near the Betances Houses.

A third man was shot on Brook Avenue back on January 1, but survived.

Police have so far made no arrests in either homicide. Anyone with any information in either case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS.


(Bronx CSI runs on Dunkin': Crime scene investigators carry two bags of evidence into the 40th Precinct.)

--Photo by David Greene






Debate Needs To Be Investigated

(Moderator Michael Serrano standing in front of candidates Andrew Cohen, Cheryl Keeling, and Cliff Stanton as he partially blocks candidate Andrew Cohen.)

Riverdale Report
By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 15- The July 11th city council debate at Lehman College needs to be investigated by not only Lehman College President Richardo Fernandez, but probably Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, and The Campaign Finance Board. What went on was not a debate, but something of a set up by one candidate on another candidate in the 11th city council race.

This was billed as a City Council District 11 Democratic Debate, moderated by Michael J. Serrano, Hosted by DIALOG: A Campus Forum, Live at the Lovinger Theatre, Lehman College. Within the first few minutes of dialog by the moderator who said that he lives by the Williamsbridge Oval one could sense the direction that this debate might be going. It was not the answers to his questions that were important to me as all three candidates seemed to agree on their answers. What started to bother me was that candidates Andrew Cohen and Cheryl Keeling rotated going first or second while candidate Cliff Stanton always answered in the advantageous position of last, thus being able to hear what his opponents had said before he answered. My blog located at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com details the answers given during this round of questions by the moderator.

At the intermission point I asked Mr. Serrano the moderator why he had candidates Cohen and Keeling only answer first and candidate Stanton always answering last. He answered me by saying that was the way he did it, and before the debate resumed he told the audience that during the intermission he was asked why candidate Stanton always went last on each question. Mr. Serrano told the audience “Because he can as moderator”.

After the break moderator Serrano asked for questions from the very poorly attended event. The Norwood News listed the attendance at 40 while I estimated 60 people of which maybe 12 could have been impartial. I am not going to go into the audience questions, because as you can see in the photos on my blog two of the people chosen to ask questions were wearing Stanton for Council t-shirts. It got to a point where candidate Andrew Cohen said, “Should someone on Mr. Stanton's payroll be asking me a question”? He answered the question none the less. I also know several others who are associated with the Stanton campaign who were allowed to ask questions, and will say that the Cohen side did get to squeak one question in as the person who asked it was sitting alone and looked like he was not associated with the Cohen campaign.

At the end of the audience questioning the moderator then pointed to the reporter who was from the Riverdale Press (once a fine local newspaper that has deteriorated in its quality of reporting which is seen in the drastic drop of its circulation) to let her ask a question. She asked candidate Andrew Cohen “Did you ever work for Pedro Espada Jr.”? Mr. Cohen answered that he was council to then Councilman Pedro Gautier Espada in the year 2000. The editorial of the Riverdale Press July 11th said that three of candidate Andrew Cohen's supporters State Senator Jeff Klein, Congressman Eliot Engel, and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz have stopped taking questions from that paper due to their reporting, no wonder why.

I then called upon the moderator to let me ask a question of the candidates. I asked if the candidates would send their child to a school that had no auditorium, no gym, no lunch room, no music & art, and was going to teach children in an area that was used as a garage. Candidates Cohen and Keeling said no they would not, while candidate Stanton said obviously that question is aimed at me since that is exactly what the charter school I helped set up is going to do. Stanton said that he did not send his child to the school, but I can tell Mr. Stanton as a former citywide parent leader I could have been talking about one of the many buildings that children have been, and are still being taught in such as the former PS 51 in School District 10 to name only one.

Back to the so called debate. It deteriorated so that when candidate Cohen could not be rattled the person on candidate Stanton's payroll then attacked current Councilman Oliver Koppell record. This person while campaigning for candidate Stanton proudly boasts on his letterhead that he helped elect Councilman Koppell in 2005 and again in 2009.

I have been impartial in this race as in all other races that are going on, and have said to Mr. Stanton's chief of staff the race would go to Mr. Cohen, and Mr. Stanton would have to pull a rabbit out of his hat.. After this debacle (not debate) I now think Mr. Stanton has to worry about finishing third in the race behind candidate Cheryl Keeling, and possibly fourth as there was a fourth person who filed petitions to run in the 11th city council district Democratic primary. This race is over as I predict candidate Andrew Cohen the winner and will say with 83 percent of the vote with a margin of error at 5 percent.

To see my take on what went on at Lehman College Thursday night July 11th complete with photos go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com.
If you have any comments about anything in this column or would like to have an event 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.


Saturday, July 6, 2013

Sixth Straight Victory for Yankees

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 6- An oppressive heat with temperatures above 90 degrees hovered over Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The heat adversely affected those in the stands and those on the playing field, but did not prevent the Yankees from coming from behind to earn their sixth consecutive win. Interestingly, five of the six were comeback victories.

The 5-4 victory over the Orioles allowed the Yanks to move into sole possession of second place in the American League East, .5 games ahead of Baltimore.

A two run homer by Chris Davis off Yankees starter Andy Pettitte in the first scored the first two runs of the contest. The pitch, according to the veteran lefthander, “was exactly where I wanted it.” Yankees skipper Joe Girardi remarked about the young superstar, “He’s so strong his popups are going to go out.”

Davis is currently a strong candidate for the 2013 MVP award in the American League. He ranks 1st in home runs (33), 1st in slugging percentage (.721), 2nd in batting average (.324), 2nd in runs (63), 2nd in runs batted in (85), 2nd in doubles (26) and 4th in on base percentage (.399). His current totals of 33 homers and 85 RBIs are equal to what he achieved in the 2012 season during which he played 139 games.

Pettitte gave up a run on two hits in the second and fourth innings. Seven of the nine hits and all four runs he yielded came during the first four frames. Girardi commented regarding Pettite’s adjustment, “He kind of figured it out in the third.”

Pettitte spoke in greater length and more discouragement about his pitching difficulties, especially early in a game, “Same old story, they got runs early. It’s frustrating. It would be nice to throw up some zeros early and pitch with a lead. Right now, my pitch selection is not the right one.” The veteran expressed no doubt that he will be able to overcome any current pitching problems, “I’ll just continue to battle through this.”

Pettitte lasted 6.2 innings. Thanks to his bullpen mates, who did not yield a run, Pettitte earned his sixth win of the year. The win, his 251st tied him with Bob Gibson for 42nd place in MLB history. Mariano Rivera earned his 29th save of the season in 30 save opportunities. The duo of Pettitte and Rivera combined for the 4th win/save combination of this season and the 72nd career combo.

The Yankees won the game using small ball. They got 10 hits, everyone was a single. Hits by Zoilo Almonte, Lyle Overbay, Luis Cruz and a sacrifice fly by Eduardo Nuñez in his first game since May 5 led to two runs in the second. Singles by Nuñez, Chris Stewart, Ichiro Suzuki and Robinson Cano added two runs in the fifth. The winning run was driven in by Nuñez in the sixth.

The Yanks hope to sweep the three game set on Sunday afternoon with Huroki Kuroda (7-6) facing Jason Hammel (7-5).

Nunez returns to Yankees lineup and that’s a plus for the infield



By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 6- The New York Yankees have been waiting for one of their injured starting infielders to come off the disabled list and make an impact. Saturday afternoon, Eduardo Nunez came off the 60-day list and started at shortstop for the first time since early May.

Nunez was off to a slow start, then a strain to his left side became too painful and possibly a reason why his average stood at .00 with four runs batted in. The Yankees have been without Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, and most of their infield has been on the disabled list the first half of the season.

Jeter and Rodriguez continue their rehab assignments and are expected back in the lineup sometime after the all-star break. Rodriguez is targeted for the end of the month and Jeter, assuming there are no more issues with his left ankle that required surgery, could return sooner.

For now, manager Joe Girardi was more than happy to welcome back Nunez. He batted eighth in the lineup and had the game deciding hit against Chris Tillman and the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth inning as New York extended their winning streak to a season high six games.

“I was disappointed in myself for being hurt so long,” said Nunez who went 2-for-3, scored a run and drove in two. His first at bat off Tillman, he flied out to left that scored Zollo Almonte in what was a sacrifice double-play.

In the eighth inning, Nunez was involved in an inning ending double play ball with David Robertson on the mound and the Orioles down by a run. After the inning, Robertson came off the mound, clutched his fist and gave Nunez a high-five in the dugout.

Almonte was in the lineup the first time with Nunez, He said: “It feels good to have one of the regulars back in the lineup.”

“That’s the best comeback you can do,” added Nunez. “Help the team to win.” And he did not have many bats in his brief rehab assignment, three hits at Double-A Trenton, The Yankees said Nunez was ready and had a roster spot open when they placed pitcher David Phelps on the disabled list with a strain to his right forearm,

“He’s the guy that you’ve kind of touted as an everyday player for a while, has the ability to really contribute offensively, play good defensively, steal bases and do a lot of different things,” said Girardi.

Nunez could be in the lineup often as long as he stays healthy. Jayson Nix, another infielder who played short and third, was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with a right hamstring strain. So, the Yankees took a chance and hoped an unexpected early return of Nunez would pay dividends.

“For him, it’s getting him healthy and getting him out there,” added Girardi, Nunez arrived in the Bronx late Friday night after playing his last game at Trenton. He also said before he got hurt, there was a lot of work on his lower body with hitting Coach Kevin Long,

For now, the Yankees hope Nunez remains healthy. He is that valuable player also that can come off the bench in the late innings when needed.

“I feel excited,” said Nunez. “I feel real good. Happy to do what I love to do.”

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Nova Pitches Yanks to Fifth Straight Win

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 6- The Yanks returned to the Bronx on Friday to begin a 10-game homestand. They started their recently completed road trip by losing three straight to Baltimore, an outcome they hope to reverse in the Bronx, but terminated it in a positive manner by sweeping a four game series in Minnesota.

The Orioles and Yanks, currently battling for second place in the American League East, began a meaningful three-game set on Friday night.

Runs were scarce to accumulate in the exciting pitching duel. The Birds reached the scoreboard first as Chris Davis, their slugger supreme, was hit by a pitch to lead-off the second. Catcher Matt Wieters followed with a home run that just passed beyond the outstretched glove of leftfielder Vernon Wells. The homer did not unnerve Ivan Nova as the 26-year-old starter retired the next 12 batters.

The Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez only surrendered one run in his six innings on the mound. The run was manufactured in the fifth after two were out. Wells singled to left. Lyle Overbay walked and shortstop Luis Cruz, signed as a free agent only two days earlier, drove in the first run of the Yankees with a single to left.

Gonzalez, a sophomore in the majors, only gave up four hits, but walked five. The native of Mexico was able to make pitches when necessary as he left the sacks full in the fourth and fifth. Yankees batters failed in the clutch against the 28 year-old as they were only 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position against him.

Two Yankees runs in the ninth that led to the walk-off victory that was as skipper Joe Girardi described it, “A great team win.”

Rookie David Adams led off with a single. Brett Gardner was safe on an error by closer Joe Johnson. The veteran Wells later spoke about this moment. “When he misplays it, you see this [game] could be special.”

Ichiro Suzuki sacrificed the runners to second and third. Slugger Robinson Cano was intentionally walked. Travis Hafner drew a walk, which knocked in the tying run. After the game, Girardi expressed his faith in Hafner batting at that crucial time in the game, “He’s been in that situation a ton of times. You just feel he’s going to get the job done.” Wells then singled in the winning run to successfully end the contest.

After the contest, Wells told reporters, “It’s rare when you have a second chance and come through.” He was referring to him and Hafner making out with bases loaded in the fifth.

Nova pitched the best game of his short career. It was his first complete game in the majors. He yielded three hits, but only one in the final seven frames. Chris Stewart, his catcher for the first eight inning commented, “That’s the best that I’ve seen him. He threw a lot of two seamers, getting a lot of ground balls and missed swings.”

In a Saturday matinee when Andy Pettitte figurines will be given to the fans in attendance, the figurines’ namesake (5-6), hoping to continue his undefeated mark in his last 10 starts against the Orioles, will be on the mound against Chris Tillman (10-2) for the Birds.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Gunpoint Robberies Rock Parkchester

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Gunpoint Robberies Rock Parkchester: By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 3- Parkchester residents have been rocked by a pair of early morning gunpoint robberies. Police have...