Yanks’ Pitching Heats Up

Yanks’ Pitching Heats Up 

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 9- The plan was for the New York Yankees bullpen was for Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller to be a force in what they call “The Two-Headed Monster.” One or the other would close games or come out of the gate to set up the closer in the eighth inning. On a cold and nasty night at Yankee Stadium the monster plan worked the first time for manager Joe Girardi.

Part of the Yankees strategy during the off season, when they lost closer David Robertson to free agency, was to find an alternative to fill the void. But Betances and Miller combined had two career saves. Girardi for the first time, in this the Yankees second game, went to Betances in the eighth and Miller worked a perfect ninth preserving a nasty Yankees 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The first win of the season for New York, and what is hoped will be more of that late bullpen duo in the Bronx.

Though Betances allowed an unearned run in that eighth inning, which gave Toronto a 3-1 lead at the time, his velocity with the fastball was at 97. Considering that Betances struggled down in spring training, and there were concerns with his velocity, this certainly was a boost.

A boost, because one of the positive factors about this Yankees team is the strength of their bullpen. Miller would get his first career save as a Yankee working a perfect ninth and threw strikes. The plan worked for Girardi this time, and the Yankees hope for many more finishes of this one-two punch out of the pen, that is assuming there are games to protect a lead in the late innings.

"I'm perfectly satisfied with the way that they've prepared us,” Miller said. “It's our job to get outs when called upon.

That's all we know." Miller, the left-hander combined to go 5-5 and a save with Baltimore and Boston last year. Betances, the right-hander had a stellar rookie season going 5-0 with a save. The earned run average was 1.40 in 7o appearances out of the pen.

It is a mix and match situation that Girardi will use when the situation is presented. Or could it be one or the other gets to close the game? That remains to be determined and after the second game of the season time will tell. The closer role for the Yankees was never an issue over the years because someone named Mariano Rivera had the job, and Robertson filled the role almost to perfection last season.

Betances (1-0) would get the win and Miller the save. Thursday evening the Yankees will be looking to get their first series win of the season. Will it be Betances getting the save or Miller getting the opportunity?

THE FIRST WIN: The Yankees came from behind with small ball and scored three runs in the eighth inning. Chase Headley got a tie breaking single that deflected off the wrist of Blue Jays’ reliever Brett Cecil…. There was a lack of offense coming from the Yankees in their second game on an otherwise ugly evening of weather at the ballpark for the announced 31.020 fans who braved the 43 degree temperatures, the smallest Yankees crowd since September 23, 2004 at the old ballpark across the street, though it appeared there were no more than 10-or 12 thousand in attendance…

Alex Rodriguez got the loudest and good cheers again and went 0-for-4…Jacoby Ellsbury reached base four times for the Yankees with two walks and two singles…. The one time ace, CC Sabathia gets his first start Thursday night in the series finale and all eyes will be watching to see the velocity and effects of a bad knee that ended his season against Milwaukee last May…

Michael Pineda tossed six innings, allowed two runs on six hits and struck out six. His first outing according to Girardi was efficient with the change up, slider and fastball. He would not get the decision. “The hitter,” Pineda said, “know I have three good pitches so I feel good about that.”

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

#Yankees #Pitching #MichaelPineda #Arod #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Social Media Stooges

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Social Media Stooges: Social Media Stooges Gang Used Facebook to Plan Crimes Cops Round Up Members in Raid BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 8- District Attorney R...

Social Media Stooges

Social Media Stooges

Gang Used Facebook to Plan Crimes

Cops Round Up Members in Raid

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 8- District Attorney Robert Johnson and NYPD Commissioner William Bratton announce the early morning raid by members of the NYPD’s 42^nd Precinct that netted eight members of the Lyman Place Gang, and the indictments of seven gang members already in custody, for crimes ranging from conspiracy to robbery to attempted murder.

The 57-count indictment unsealed in Bronx Supreme Court continues the investigation and prosecution that began late last year, when 11 Lyman members were indicted on charges including murder, attempted murder and conspiracy.

As with last year’s case, much of the gang members’ communication took place on Facebook, and related to the acquisition of firearms and ammunition, and the targeting of victims in rival gangs.

Some of those online communications also related to the robberies for which several members are charged, including one on March 1^st, 2015, in the vicinity of 1409 Prospect Avenue, during which three gang members allegedly robbed a food deliveryman of cash and a cell phone. Another took place on St. Patrick’s Day of this year at the Bright Star Deli, 858 Prospect Avenue, during which two of the accused allegedly punched an employee in the face and stole cash from the register.

District Attorney Robert Johnson noted that each of these arrests makes an important stride in making the streets safer for citizens in the Bronx: “This kind of violence is senseless, and it is our office’s goal, along with that of the NYPD, to make sure that guns are taken off the streets, and those wrongdoers who would use guns or other means to threaten the safety of law abiding citizens, are targeted by our investigations.”

"This investigation is an example of law enforcement addressing the violence caused by street crews such as the Lyman Gang whose reckless actions affect the quality of life of the residents where they operate. I want to thank the members of the 42nd Precinct and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for bringing these alleged crew members to justice,” said Police Commissioner William J. Bratton.

The District Attorney singled out for praise the 42^nd Precinct’s Field Intelligence Officers Sgt. Adrian Uruci and P.O. David Terrell, the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau, and P.O. Brian Moore of the Juvenile Justice Division.  Also thanked for their work on the shooting and robberies are Det. Dan Brady, Det. Shane Rogers, Det. Luis Reyes, and Det. Carlos Lozada of the 42^nd Precinct.

The case against the Lyman Place Gang is being prosecuted by Bronx Assistant District Attorneys Christina Nowak and Felicity Lung of the Bronx D.A. Gangs/Major Case Bureau, as well as Edward Friedenthal, Counsel to the Bureau.

The charges in this indictment are merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

#NYPD #LymanPlaceGang #Facebook #BronxDA #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Gunfire Erupts Outside of School

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Gunfire Erupts Outside of School: Gunfire Erupts Outside of School (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 8- Police were looking for the gunman w...

Gunfire Erupts Outside of School

Gunfire Erupts Outside of School

(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 8- Police were looking for the gunman who fired at least three shots as dozens of children played in a nearby schoolyard.

One of the shots hit the unidentified victim in the middle of his back outside of M.S. 22, which also houses the Jordan L. Mott Junior High School and the Bronx Writing Academy.

Police officers from the 44th Precinct were called to the intersection of East 167 Street and Morris Avenue and discovered the wounded 25 year-old male at 3:50 p.m. on April 6.

According to police officials the victim was rushed to Lincoln Hospital and was expected to survive.

One unconfirmed report stated that police were looking for a light-skinned Hispanic male, who fled through the alley of the school towards East 166 Street.

Despite the recent deployment of the new NYPD program ShotSpotter, which pinpoints the exact location of gunfire, one business owner stated, "I'd say crime is up, way up.”

Officers in the 44th Precinct responded to a second shooting when a male victim was shot inside Joyce Kilmer Park at East 163 Street and the Grand Concourse.

Police continue to investigate both incidents.

 #NYPD #School #Shooting #Bronxnews

Opening Day Blues

Opening Day Blues

If A-Rod is the best they got Yanks are in trouble 

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 7- There were no remaining members of the “Core Four” at Yankee Stadium Monday afternoon. Derek Jeter was not spotted in the house for the first time in 20 years. But Alex Rodriguez returned and there was the unexpected fan reaction that said all was forgiven for A-Rod. The unfortunate result was the same that was seen last season in the Bronx as the Yankees got off to a bad start with a 6-1 loss to Toronto,

And there was Masahiro Tanaka on the mound which paved the way for more questions. The velocity from his fastball did not do the job. The five runs, four earned, and a two-run home run in the third inning off the bat of Edwin Encarnacion was too much to overcome. More so, the manager Joe Girardi was not concerned that there was anything wrong with the recurring issue of a right elbow that will be monitored each time he takes the mound. 

The right elbow will continue to be a question and each pitch will be monitored. It has been a concern since last July when the inflammation was detected, and If the Yankees do not have an effective Tanaka they could be one arm short than they need. 

“There is nothing wrong with him,” Girardi said. “The first two innings he looked pretty good.” However, the Yankees need more than 4.0 innings from Tanaka and he will be watched and monitored more and more during his next start Sunday evening against the Red Sox.       

Tanaka got out of the third inning with 54 pitches and Girardi did say there were “a lot of bad counts.” That is usually a sign that something may be wrong, but Girardi even during his pre game meeting with the media was putting a quick end to any reports that a diminishing fastball was a cause for concern about a partial tear of the ligament in his right elbow. 

This was the first game of a long season. The struggles of Tanaka, the Yankees failure to get the hits and drive in runs was so reminiscent of last season. That single for Rodriguez to right center in the fifth inning, his first since September 22 of 2013, drew a nice ovation from the 48,469 fans that sold out opening day in the Bronx and it was the second hit of the day off Blue Jays starter Drew Hutchison.

“I think we live in a forgiving society overall,” commented Girardi when asked about the reaction Rodriguez received. “We live in a society that gives people second and third chances, fourth, fifth. I’ve seen it with some of the players when I was here early who had a lot of chances and came back.”  

Girardi inserted Rodriguez in the lineup as the designated hitter. The manager said he will give him an opportunity to play the field and perhaps then it will be known how effective Rodriguez will be. The Yankees need Rodriguez to be a cog in the lineup, and of course a good spring on the field and a new attitude helped to get the fans back in his corner. The controversy for now seems to be a thing of the past.

“I have to admit, it definitely felt good," said Rodriguez. "That's for sure. I have a lot of love for the city of New York, especially our fans. "But let's make it clear the fans don't owe me anything. I've said all along during spring training, the part of feeling like a rookie is I have to earn their cheers and their respect."

Yes his looks were good at the plate, and Rodriguez batted seventh in the order. But the Yankees had silent bats again and on Opening Day they hoped for different results. And newcomer Didi Gregorius took responsibility for an attempted steal of third with two men on and two outs in the eighth inning.  

The botched attempt to steal came at a wrong time, a bad decision that Girardi could not comprehend. That was a minor part of this first Yankees loss of the new season with 161 games left to play, and of course the old baseball expression is tomorrow is another day.

This day though, with Tanaka on the mound and Alex Rodriguez back on the field did not go the Yankees way.

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

#Yankees #ARod #Tanaka #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): 2015 Opening Day at Yankee Stadium

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): 2015 Opening Day at Yankee Stadium: 2015 Opening Day at Yankee Stadium (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 6- It has been more than six months si...