Phil Allard, in his 10th Inning Journal at WCBS NEWSRADIO 880 is featuring an interview with me today. Click here to read it.
My thanks to Phil for his interest and kind words about WasWatching.com!
The Yankees play the Twins four times during Spring Training this year.
How cool would it be if the Yankees’ Brett Gardner and the Twins’ Carlos Gomez had a race before one of those Spring Training games? Who do you think would win?
Feel free to use this post as a place for you to comment on anything Yankees-related (or within reach of tagging the bag of being Yankees-related on a decent slide) today. It could be a casual conversation offering, or, something you saw in the news, or something very detailed that you want to share that’s within the territory of Yankeeland.
Or, comment on something that someone else has posted here in the comments…
Have fun. Play nice. And, remember, keep it Yankees-focused.
Jonathan Albaladejo, pitching for Mayaguez in the P.R. Winter League, had 14 saves and gave up one run in 22 innings (while striking out 18 and walking two).
Maybe I was wrong on this kid? Then again, we’ll have to see how he does this Spring, won’t we?
Anyone out there remember what happened to the Yankees on August 23, 1968 during the second game of a double-header?
Lindy McDaniel retired 21 straight Tiger batters‚ six on strikeouts – coming into the game in the 9th inning. Yet, the Yankees could not score during that time, or during the next 4 innings to follow, and the game ended in a 3-3 tie. (The Tigers under-rated John Hiller came into the game in the 8th inning and went 9 scoreless innings – which probably had a lot to do with the Yanks not getting the job done.)
Bill Robinson had chances to win the game for the Yankees in the 9th and the 11th, albeit with two outs, and failed. Ditto Dick Howser in the 13th and 15th.
The game was called after 19 innings, at 1:07 am EST (on August 24th) due to a curfew rule.
For what it’s worth, at least the Yankees won the first game of the twin-bill, 2-1, in a great game pitched by Stan Bahnsen.
Hey, for those old-time Yankees fans out there, if you were at this game, or just remember it well, tell us all about in the comments section below.
Via the Yomiuri Shimbun:
Spring is officially more than a month away, but don’t tell that to the 12 pro teams, who begin their spring training today in Kyushu and Okinawa.
“It’s time to lay the foundation for another year’s battles, and I expect everyone to work hard so we can meet our expectations,” said Saitama Seibu Lions manager Hisanobu Watanabe, whose club begins the defense of their Japan Series title at their camp in Nango, Miyazaki Prefecture.
The prefecture is also the spring base of the Central League champion Yomiuri Giants.
“The season for each individual to nurture his vigor and technique and to strive for big goals has finally come,” Hara said at a ceremony to welcome the team at Miyazaki Airport.
The new attraction at this year’s Yomiuri camp will be teenage rookie Yasushi Ota. The club’s first pick in last autumn’s draft, the slugging infielder was issued No. 55, the number last worn by New York Yankees outfielder and two-time CL MVP Hideki Matsui.
Ota was excited to get outside.
“It’s going to be fun,” he said. “It’s so different from hitting by yourself indoors. On the field, you can see when the ball carries and when it dies. It’s important to be able to tell the difference.”
Hey, if the Yomiuri Giants can give away #55, maybe us Yankees fans should not have gotten our huevos so twisted when LaTroy tried to wear #21?
