Yanks back in the swing

Yanks Back in the Swing of Things?

Yanks get power and pitching to down Royals

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 27- Just last week the New York Yankees had issues with every aspect of the game and the result was a six-game losing streak and falling out of first place to Tampa Bay. But these last two games against the Kansas City Royals in the Bronx have resembled a team that is ready for another winning streak.

After routing the American League champion Royals 14-1 Monday afternoon, the Yankees picked up from the day before and won their second straight, 5-1 over the Royals Tuesday night. Once again the Yankees scored in the first inning. Mark Teixeira hit his team leading 14th home run to left off Royals’ lefty Jason Vargas, a two-run homer that scored Alex Rodriguez who walked. 

The Yankees lead Major League Baseball with 50-first inning runs this season, but more importantly these last two wins have come against a team that came to the Bronx with the overall best overall record in baseball, 28-17.

Right hander Adam Warren (3-3) got the win. He allowed two hits, and a run in 6.1 innings. Paulo Orlando accounted for the lone Kansas City run when he hit his first career home run off Warren tin the sixth inning to right-field.

Warren has recorded quality starts in his last three outings and the two hits were the lowest he has allowed as a starter in his career. In his four career appearances against the Royals, including one start, Warren has a combined 1.38 ERA.

“I think you are starting to see him get more comfortable,” commented Yankees manager Joe Girardi about Warren. “He’s pitching as well as anyone in the rotation.” 

The Yankees pitching staff that gave up 30- runs combined in three losses to Texas last week, saw their bullpen also pitch scoreless ball. Dellin Betances struck out the side swinging in the eighth inning and extended his club record to 22- consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run,

Teixeira, 2-for-4 tied his season high with four runs batted in. He also doubled in the fifth inning and of his 36 hits this season, 23 have gone for extra bases.

On his production in the Yankees first 46 games, something that was absent from the lineup last season because of recurring injuries to his right wrist, Teixeira said: “If I stay healthy then I know I will produce. I didn’t have fun the last two years so this has been nice.”

The Yankees go for the three-game series sweep wednesday afternoon before embarking on a seven-game road trip to Oakland and Seattle. Michael Pineda, 5-2, will take the mound for New York and look to break a two game losing streak. Right-hander Chris Young, 4-0 will be on the mound for the Royals to try and prevent the sweep.

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

#Yankees #MarkTeixeira #Royals 

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Batmen strike

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Batmen strike: Batmen Strike on Cinco de Mayo Beat, Stab Man for Chain By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 26- Police are s...

Chain snatchers beat man with baseball bat

Batmen Strike on Cinco de Mayo

Beat, Stab Man for Chain

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 26- Police are searching for a group of thugs who beat a Bronx man with a baseball bat and stabbed him to steal his chain.

At around 4:45 p.m. on May 5, a group of five men attacked a man in front of 674 Allerton Avenue. The men beat the 25-year old with a baseball bat and stabbed him with a knife. The group then ripped a gold chain from the victim's neck.

Police released surveillance video of the suspects, one of whom was seen running with a bat.

The suspects are described as 5 male Hispanics. The suspect with the knife or sharp instrument is wearing a black tank top and black shorts.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.

#NYPD #Bat #Bronxnews

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Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bernie Williams honored

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bernie Williams honored: Bernie Williams Honored at Yankee Stadium By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 25- The most successful franchise in baseball histor...

Bernie Williams honored

Bernie Williams Honored at Yankee Stadium

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 25- The most successful franchise in baseball history, the New York Yankees, have always shown a great interest in honoring its heroes and its storied past. The number of monuments and plaques has grown greatly over the years.

During the 2014 season, four plaques were added to Monument Park to honor Joe Torre, Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neill, and Rich “Goose” Gossage. Four more greats of Yankee history will be honored during the current season.

The first, Bernie Williams, was honored on Sunday night prior to the New York-Texas Rangers contest. Since Williams has not played in the last nine years, this honor was considered by many to be long overdue.

Many blamed the organization for ignoring Williams while paying to others whose ties with the Yankees are of much shorter duration and of much less importance. On the field and in the press conference room to reporters, Williams took the full responsibility for the delay for this long-awaited occasion, “The organization has been on me for years to have this day. I wanted to make sure I would not come back.”

Williams did not officially sign his retirement papers from baseball until one month before this ceremony. He explained the difficulty in reaching this decision, “The process was physically and psychologically. Your abilities diminish. You realize you can’t do it anymore. I found something [music] that I could devote my time to.” He admitted, “I really misjudged the sentiment of the fans and of my own. I really needed to have closure to this aspect of my life.”

The ceremony was moving to the large crowd who came to cheer Williams. A contingent of Former Yankees joined Williams on the field, the Core 4 (Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte) reunited for the first time this season at Yankee Stadium. Pettitte and Posada will be honored in August. Also were present were Gene “Stick” Michael, Roy White, Willie Randolph, David Cone, Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neill, and Joe Torre.

Also present on the field were members of Williams’ immediate family, his mother, brother and children. Williams 

remarked in his speech, “I know my father is watching in heaven.”

A Congressional Certificate of Appreciation presented by Rep. Jose Serrano, who represents the district in which Yankee Stadium is situated, was read. Gifts were presented by the Yankees. Highlights of Williams’ 16 years in pinstripes were shown on the center field screen.

Yankee broadcasters John Sterling and Michael Kay did an outstanding job in emceeing the program. Williams thanked deservedly Debbie Tymon and Greg  King for their efforts in organizing the program. The Yankees Marketing Department headed by Tymon makes a superlative effort in planning And organizing special events unlike that of any sports organization.

Williams gave thanks to those who benefitted him in his career and in his life in his closing remarks, “You guys have been instrumental in my career. I am overwhelmed."

#Yankees #BernieWiliiams 

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Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Grad Schools Yanks

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Grad Schools Yanks: Fordham Grad Schools Yanks Martinez got Groomed in Bronx By Rich Mancuso Nick Martinez the Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher has ...

Fordham Grad Schools Yanks

Fordham Grad Schools Yanks

Martinez got Groomed in Bronx

By Rich Mancuso



Nick Martinez the Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher has grown up. In baseball standards that means throwing the fastball with location and attacking hitters early in ther count. An infielder at Fordham University in the Bronx, the Miami Florida resident, with a Cuban background had that potential to throw off the mound when he got five relief appearance opportunities for the Atlantic-10 Conference Rams in 2011.



Then something happened. He converted to a pitcher after being selected by the Texas Rangers in the 18th round of the amateur draft in 2011 after being asked to give it a try.



And now in his second year as a big league starter, Martinez is rapidly developing a reputation as a starter to be reckoned with.



That continued Saturday afternoon in the Bronx. Martinez took control early and handled a struggling New York Yankees lineup through 7.0 innings, good enough to stay perfect at 4-0. It helped that his Rangers team  dominated New York at the plate, banging out 15-hits en route to an easy 15-4 win. He gave up five hits throwing a career-high 108 pitches, and except for two home run balls, has now allowed three earned runs or fewer in 15 consecutive starts.



Yes, Martinez has grown up. The Texas Rangers feel they have a future ace and in baseball, as it happens more than once, the unexpected seems to always happen. Except Martinez is maturing each and every time he takes the mound, and with the Rangers offense starting to get on track, Martinez is also gaining more confidence.



“It’s nice, I don’t know what to say,” said Martinez about the early run support and the big lead. He said that with a smile that could have extended from the visitor’s clubhouse at Yankee Stadium to the Fordham Rose Hill campus, which is three miles from the Stadium.



“I will take it every time. Great when guys are swinging the bat that way. I could hear my buddies out there cheering for me. It's almost like a homecoming for me."



Though this was his second time on the mound at Yankee Stadium for the Rangers, so there was more of a familiarity with the dimensions of the ballpark and some in the Yankees lineup.



Last August he got a start in the Bronx and pitched five innings, striking out five, and did not figure in the decision. Then he left a bunch of tickets for friends and he had another enthusiastic core of fans from Fordham cheering him on every pitch.



Sunday morning, prior to leaving the ballpark for the series finale, Martinez was planning to visit the baseball team at Rose Hill and give them some support.



“Coming back to the Bronx, hearing my buddies cheering….I spent three or four important years of my life here,” said Martinez. “It’s special for me to pitch here. Always will have a special place in my heart.”



With the exception of two walks in the first inning, to Brett Gardner and Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees did not get their first of five hits off Martinez until the fourth inning when Rodriguez got on base with an infield single, and two more hits came off home runs.



Carlos Beltran extended his hitting streak to a season-high 13 games with a sixth inning solo shot to right on a 0-1 fastball. And Didi Gregorius homered in consecutive games for the second time in his career in the seventh inning, with one-out to right on another fastball.



“Growing up right in front of our eyes," is how Rangers’ manager manager Jeff Banister described the composure and maturity of Martinez, wh0 at 24-years of age can only get better.



Banister added, "Nick's been a guy that's been in complete control. His composure on the mound has been spectacular really. He has not shown any anxiety anywhere, no nervousness." And that showed after that first inning when Martinez got into a groove and he certainly did not let the home balls get to him.



If it were not for the career-high pitch count, Martinez may have went another inning or two. He added about that first inning, “I wasn’t locked in and after that went in on the attack.”



On the home run to Beltran, Martinez said, “He’s a great hitter. He hasn’t been in this game by a mistake. Thought I could beat him inside, he beat me.” But Martinez did get a win over the Yankees for the first time in three career starts and despite the 4-0 record, he is the first to admit there is more to learn.



“I don’t look at it too much,” he said about the record. “Just go out and help my team win. I just try to come to the ballpark everyday with the mentality to continue to learn. Knowing that, going to the ballpark to learn and better myself, it helps. I’m capable, not surprised. If I keep working hard I will be alright.”



Those are the words of a confident pitcher and a good hitter in the Rangers’ lineup, Elvis Andrus has also noticed how Martinez has matured and grown in his last few starts.



“He knows how to throw that fastball and attack early,” Andrus said. “It was nice to give him early run support.” Andrus went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs as the Rangers had a season high in runs for a game and their largest win of the season.



They feel confident at the plate. More so, there is that confidence that Martinez on the mound gives them a better chance for a win. Perhaps those days on the Fordham campus, and those few times on the mound were meant to be for Martinez, who has also been getting some good pointers from Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, brother of Texas pitching coach Mike Maddux.



Says Banister, “He can read hitters well.” And as long as Martinez continues to do that, the Rangers will be very content that they stumbled upon an unexpected pitcher who has grown to be a good one.



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



#Yankees #NickMartinez #TexasRangers