Police Officer Dies in Bruckner Van Crash;

Police Officer Dies in Bruckner Van Crash;

8 Officers Injured in Hunts Point

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 22- One police officer has died and eight others were injured when an NYPD van filled with officers, crashed when the unidentified driver lost control of the vehicle. The van filled with cops was heading into Manhattan as part of a special detail to assist with the next days gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.

Investigators say the van left the 47th Precinct and was headed into Manhattan at just after 5 a.m. on Sunday, September 21, when the van struck the concrete barrier along the westbound Bruckner Expressway between Longwood and Bryant Avenue's in Hunts Point.

At least three officers in the most serious condition were rushed to Lincoln Hospital, while the rest were transported to Jacobi and St. Barnabas Hospitals.

One officer, later identified as 25-year-old rookie Michael Williams, succumbed to his injuries at just before 6 a.m. Williams had been sitting in the back seat of the 2009 Ford Econoline van, when he was ejected out of the vehicles back doors upon impact.

Visiting officers at the 47th Precinct, Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters, "This is a very sad day in New York City," and said of the young officer, "This is what he wanted to do with his life."

Mayor de Blasio said the investigation would determine if the officer had worn a seat belt or if a brief shower at the time of the crash may have played a role in Williams' death.

Traditionally, officers do not wear seat belts as passengers in vans as the wrap-around belt do not fit around the waist of most officers and a rule that forbids officers from removing their holster and service weapon.

The area of the crash has recently undergone a complete renovation with a new traffic pattern. The van had just come out of a turn and was traveling on a straight-away that leads to the elevated section of the Bruckner Expressway at the time of the crash.

Williams was a former deputy sheriff with the Dutchess County Sheriff's Department and had graduated from the NYPD police academy in June and was assigned to the 47th Precinct. Williams' father is a 30 year veteran of the Putnam County Police Department.

A funeral mass for Williams will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church in LaGrangeville, N.Y. followed by burial at the Union Valley Cemetery in Mahopac, N.Y.   

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): The Jeter Watch-Sunday, September 21, 2014

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): The Jeter Watch-Sunday, September 21, 2014: The Jeter Watch-Sunday, September 21, 2014 By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 22- As MLB nears the end of regular season play, ...

The Jeter Watch-Sunday, September 21, 2014

The Jeter Watch-Sunday, September 21, 2014

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 22- As MLB nears the end of regular season play, the interest in Derek Jeter increases. The Gatorade commercial released this week has gone viral on the Internet. Yankee Stadium was sold out for the second straight day on Sunday afternoon as a crowd of 48,144 filled the ballpark. Merchandise with Jeter’s name or likeness and signs that salute the Yankee captain were seen in every section of the stadium.

Jeter was in the designated hitter slot on Sunday, so the fans could only see him out of the dugout in his four times at bat and twice on base. Before Jeter stepped into the batting box, the chant of his name was echoed throughout the park. Once he was ready to bat, he received repeated standing ovations from the fans. While standing, thousands readied their phones to record a photo of one of his final at bats.

In the first inning, the cheers were loud when Jeter’s bat connected with the ball, but the baseball was caught by Anthony Gose in centerfield.  

To even more fan disappointment, Jeter struck out on a foul tip with a 2-2 count in the third.
The crowd saw what it was waiting for in the fifth as Jeter cracked a 0-2 pitch into right for a single. The hit increased his consecutive game hitting streak to five. The pitch ended another streak as Toronto starter Drew Hutchinson was removed after 4+ innings. In the previous 26 games, each Toronto starter lasted at least 6 innings. The 26 games were the most since Mariners’ pitchers threw 27 such consecutive games. Jeter advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground ball out, but did not score.

In the seventh, with Brett Gardner, who blasted the 15,000 home run in Yankee history two innings earlier, on second, Jeter smashed a double down the left field line to drive in Gardner and give the Yankees a 3-1 advantage. The excited fans responded with a vociferous standing ovation. After the game, Yankee manager Joe Girardi commented, “That’s a huge hit in that situation.”

The hit also gave the 40 year-old his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, a feat that tied his season high. Girardi, asked about his recent strong hitting remarked, “He’s hitting the ball with more authority. He’s swinging the bat extremely well since I gave him that day off in Tampa.” The manager acknowledged that the nearness of the end of his career could also be a motivating factor to the Yankee icon.

Jeter then stole third base, his 10th stolen base of the season. Jeter, who has compiled 358 steals in his career, was asked about why he attempted it as if it was something he never previously did. He replied, “It was an opportunity. I thought I had a chance to make it and I went.”

Jeter scored when the next batter, Brian McCann, hit his second homer of the game, which accounted for the last runs of a 5-2 Yankee win.

Jeter was asked about the almost unprecedented fan support he has recently received. He responded jocularly, “It’s fun. It’s a lot better when they’re cheering for you.” He also reminded the reporter that the fans have always been supportive of him. That remark is something he has made repeatedly over the years.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Tanaka return

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Tanaka return: Tanaka return and countdown for Jeter with a Yankees win By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 22- Most of the sold out crowd at Ya...

Tanaka return

Tanaka return and countdown for Jeter with a Yankees win

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 22- Most of the sold out crowd at Yankee Stadium Sunday afternoon cheered and waited for Derek Jeter to leave the field after the New York Yankees 5-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. And it was loud cheers most of the afternoon in the Bronx as the Yankees and their fans say goodbye to their captain this week.

There were also cheers for the starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, one of the Yankees major investments during the off-season. He showed no effects of his right elbow inflammation that put him on the shelf for more than two months, and perhaps that is good news for a team that in a matter of days will be eliminated from the post season a second consecutive year,

But as they Yankees finish up their home schedule this week, the emphasis will continue to be about Derek Jeter. Tanaka, with 5.1 innings gave up an earned run on five hits. The right-hander struck out four and will get another start up in Boston next weekend when the Yankees finish up their season.

Jeter is not in the plans next year, as much as it appears to be setting in that seven more games remain in his illustrious career. But a healthy Tanaka in 2015 is what the Yankees hope for, assuming there are no further complications with the elbow and Tommy John Surgery is not necessary.

“I thought if something was to happen, in my mind, you’d see it on a pitch, not necessarily the next day,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said about Tanaka. “But still, we got through today, so let’s get through tomorrow."

And tomorrow night the Yankees will attempt to keep those slim playoff hopes alive against the AL division champion Orioles. A magic number of four will spell the end to next year and planning with a hopeful and healthy Tanaka, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira.

“I don’t feel different,” Jeter said about these being his last days unless the Yankees can pull off a miracle.”Well aware its winding down and constantly reminded of it. Play as hard as I can, as I said before and still trying to win games.”

Jeter went 2-for-4 and had a season tying four straight multi-hit game. He may be seeing the ball better than he did all season, though Girardi said the day off Monday also helped the soon to be captain.

In four games on the homestand, Jeter is 8-for-17 with three runs, two doubles, a home run and three runs batted in.

Tanaka had the same split, slider, and control before he went on the disabled list July 8th. “Overall satisfied,” he said. “I wanted to check to see how well my elbow would respond... in that sense I was thinking about it.”

Again, a healthy Tanaka is what the Yankees will need next year. There is no certainty about CC Sabathia returning to form and providing 150 innings.The Yankees offense, with a makeship lineup minus Beltran, Ellsbury and Teixeira hit their stride Sunday, and that got some cheers with three home runs, two from Brian McCann and a solo from Brett Gardner.

But it was about Jeter who poked the ball well during the four-game series with the Blue Jays and the Yankees scored 16-runs, a contrast to not getting runs home since April.

“They’ve done it periods of the year they just have not been consistent,” Girardi said about his offense. “Look at it two ways. You are upset about it but they are still fighting.” Meaning, there is no quit with the realization scoreboard watching will soon mean elimination and on to next season.

“Timely hitting, pitching, playing good baseball, that’s what we did,” commented McCann who hit his team leading 22nd home run.

But the overall consensus was, another of the farewell Derek Jeter days in the Bronx. He has made things happen for the Yankees over the years and there will be someone different manning shortstop.

“The game is going to miss him,” said Toronto manager John Gibbons.

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

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Jeter Watch

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Jeter Watch: The Jeter Watch-Saturday, September 20, 2014 By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 21- T he focus of nearly every person in the so...

Jeter Watch

The Jeter Watch-Saturday, September 20, 2014

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 21- The focus of nearly every person in the sold-out Yankee Stadium crowd of 47,292 was on Derek Jeter. Whether in the field, at shortstop or at the plate with a bat in his hands, everyone was watching the Yankee captain. What did Jeter do during the ninth game before his retirement?

The fans rose to their feet and cheered as Jeter approached the plate in the first inning. That fan reaction was repeated before each of his four following at bats. The disappointment was noticeable as Jeter took a called third strike.

With two out in the third, he beat out an infield hit. The hit raised his consecutive

game hitting streak to four. He then scored his 1,920th career run on a double to left by Brian McCann. The run put him one ahead of teammate Alex Rodriguez for sole possession of ninth place in the record books. The run knotted the score at 1.

Jeter grounded out to second in the fifth. Two innings later, he flied to right.

In his last at bat, in the bottom of the ninth, Jeter doubled sharply to left, driving Brett Gardner, who was on first, across the plate for the final Yankee run. The run batted in was his 1,303rd, which gave him 100th place in career stats. The hit was his 141st of the year and 3,457th in career hits, 6th place in MLB history.

It was also his second hit of the contest. He had multi-hit games in all three of the home contests of the final homestand that have been played.

Speaking about the ninth inning run batted in, Yankee manager Joe Girardi commented, “You’re seeing it again. The guy never stops fighting and believing in himself.”

Gardner, who scored on Jeter’s double, reacted after the game, “Nothing he does surprises you anymore. Obviously, what he has accomplished in his career is pretty special and he’s definitely a guy you don’t ever count out.”

At short, Jeter made four assists and did not make an error.

In the eighth inning, an MLB tribute video was played on the centerfield videoboard that received another ovation from the crowd.

Jeter has five more games to play in the Bronx and three in Boston before his retirement takes effect.