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
Thursday, September 11, 2014
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.
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yanks/Mets
Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yanks/Mets: Yanks/Mets A play at the plate and two sides of a baseball night in New York By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 10- Much of the...
Yanks/Mets
Yanks/Mets
A play at the plate and two sides of a baseball night in New York
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 10- Much of the Tuesday night post game discussion in the Bronx with New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi centered on a play at home plate in the fifth inning that did not become a run for the Yankees in their loss to Tampa Bay. A run that further diminished their slim playoff chances could also be blamed on a continued and experimental rule to avoid collisions.
And across the Robert Kennedy Bridge at Citi Field, 10,000 or fewer fans watched the cross-town Mets take the second of three games from the lowly Colorado Rockies.
Take it as it is, but with 17 games remaining for the Mets and 20 for the Yankees, both teams are within five-games for the last wild card in the National and American Leagues. Realistically the chances for October post season baseball in New York are not going to happen.
Then there is the David Wright side of this baseball night. The Mets captain is shut down for the season because of a continued problem of inflammation to the rotator cuff in his left shoulder. Better safe than never is the Mets terminology as they look to have their captain healthy and back to form in 2015.
The hope is, that Wright will avoid surgery. He will undergo a six-week rehabilitation program to strenghten the shoulder. Wright was talking with optimism and perhaps he should have been shut down sooner after injuring the shoulder sliding head first in a game on June 12th.
He disputed the bad numbers at the plate were attributed to the shoulder, though the speculation all along has been a bad shoulder led to a bad David Wright.
Since the All-Star break, Wright did not have the numbers. He hit .238 with seven extra-base hits, no home runs and was trying to pull the ball to no avail.
"I don't know,” Wright said about the shoulder being an impact on the sub par season. "As I've said all along, I'm not one to make excuses. This season has left a sour taste in my mouth. I'm confident that after getting healthy, I'll return to doing what I'm capable of."
And that is what the Mets hope for. Because a healthy and productive David Wright can only make them that much better if they intend to contend next season.
That play at the plate in the Bronx was attributed to a rule that still has the baseball insiders confused.
Rays’ left fielder Matt Joyce threw out Stephen Drew in the fifth inning because catcher Ryan Hanigan blocked Drew who was sliding. Earlier, Major League Baseball issued new guidelines to teams and their umpires on what the catcher can do under that circumstance.
It was one of many plays this season that continues to cause confusion and needed further clarification. Though at this point, clarified or not, the Yankees needed the call to go their way after Girardi called for the review.
Girardi commented, “Wish the rule was back to normal. If I’m a baserunner I’m going to run him over. At least the catcher has gear.Think you have to look at it,” he said about making some revisions about a rule that was implemented to prevent concussions via the collision.
“I know they’ve accomplished what they’ve accomplished but when you are playing for spots, I’m sending my guy home. In baseball you have to win everyday, that’s the bottom line.”
The Yankees were a half game out of that wild card a month ago. The effort, according to Girardi is still there and he said, “I’m not frustrated because I see what they go through.”
Yet it is frustrating to see the Yankees season dwindle down to a few remaining games and miss the post season a second straight year. But is is more optimistic to know that David Wright will be on a full road to recovery with some rest and proper treatment.
A play at the plate and two sides of a baseball night in New York
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 10- Much of the Tuesday night post game discussion in the Bronx with New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi centered on a play at home plate in the fifth inning that did not become a run for the Yankees in their loss to Tampa Bay. A run that further diminished their slim playoff chances could also be blamed on a continued and experimental rule to avoid collisions.
And across the Robert Kennedy Bridge at Citi Field, 10,000 or fewer fans watched the cross-town Mets take the second of three games from the lowly Colorado Rockies.
Take it as it is, but with 17 games remaining for the Mets and 20 for the Yankees, both teams are within five-games for the last wild card in the National and American Leagues. Realistically the chances for October post season baseball in New York are not going to happen.
Then there is the David Wright side of this baseball night. The Mets captain is shut down for the season because of a continued problem of inflammation to the rotator cuff in his left shoulder. Better safe than never is the Mets terminology as they look to have their captain healthy and back to form in 2015.
The hope is, that Wright will avoid surgery. He will undergo a six-week rehabilitation program to strenghten the shoulder. Wright was talking with optimism and perhaps he should have been shut down sooner after injuring the shoulder sliding head first in a game on June 12th.
He disputed the bad numbers at the plate were attributed to the shoulder, though the speculation all along has been a bad shoulder led to a bad David Wright.
Since the All-Star break, Wright did not have the numbers. He hit .238 with seven extra-base hits, no home runs and was trying to pull the ball to no avail.
"I don't know,” Wright said about the shoulder being an impact on the sub par season. "As I've said all along, I'm not one to make excuses. This season has left a sour taste in my mouth. I'm confident that after getting healthy, I'll return to doing what I'm capable of."
And that is what the Mets hope for. Because a healthy and productive David Wright can only make them that much better if they intend to contend next season.
That play at the plate in the Bronx was attributed to a rule that still has the baseball insiders confused.
Rays’ left fielder Matt Joyce threw out Stephen Drew in the fifth inning because catcher Ryan Hanigan blocked Drew who was sliding. Earlier, Major League Baseball issued new guidelines to teams and their umpires on what the catcher can do under that circumstance.
It was one of many plays this season that continues to cause confusion and needed further clarification. Though at this point, clarified or not, the Yankees needed the call to go their way after Girardi called for the review.
Girardi commented, “Wish the rule was back to normal. If I’m a baserunner I’m going to run him over. At least the catcher has gear.Think you have to look at it,” he said about making some revisions about a rule that was implemented to prevent concussions via the collision.
“I know they’ve accomplished what they’ve accomplished but when you are playing for spots, I’m sending my guy home. In baseball you have to win everyday, that’s the bottom line.”
The Yankees were a half game out of that wild card a month ago. The effort, according to Girardi is still there and he said, “I’m not frustrated because I see what they go through.”
Yet it is frustrating to see the Yankees season dwindle down to a few remaining games and miss the post season a second straight year. But is is more optimistic to know that David Wright will be on a full road to recovery with some rest and proper treatment.
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