The final voting announced today:
Manager 1st 2nd 3rd Points Scioscia 15 10 1 106 Gardenhire 6 12 6 72 Girardi 4 3 5 34 Wakamatsu 2 2 3 19 Washington 1 1 11 19 Leyland 2 2
I could see Gardenhire getting more votes than Girardi. But, Scioscia?
I like Scioscia – don’t get me wrong – but, was he really that much better than Girardi?
Goodness, was the stone mason right? Nope…via the Post -
No, Derek Jeter hasn’t blown through his fortune al ready — he’s playing a be draggled bum in a movie.
The Yan kees captain and five-time world champion is play ing a fictionalized version of himself in the upcoming Will Ferrell flick “The Other Guys,” which was being filmed yesterday at Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island.
Via cbs11tv.com with a h/t to BBTF –
An elevated heart rate and high blood pressure sent a former Major League pitcher to a Denton-area hospital Thursday.
Former Texas Rangers pitcher and current Seattle Mariners bullpen coach John Wetteland was taken by ambulance to Denton Regional Medical Center Thursday afternoon after police were called to his house.
Denton County officials told CBS 11 Thursday afternoon that Wetteland had been hospitalized for a mental health issue, but in a release sent out to members of the media Thursday night by the Seattle Mariners, Wetteland said “My wife and I are very appreciative of the over and above care of our local officers and paramedics. The circumstances leading to my elevated blood pressure and heart rate have been addressed. I am currently resting safely at home.”
The Denton County Sheriff’s office told CBS 11 they took a call from the Bartonville area around 12:30 Thursday on a possibly suicidal person.
When officers arrived to the home, a man later identified as Wetteland came out with his hands in the air, saying he “needed help.”
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement, “We were relieved once we heard the details from John and Michelle and that John is safe at home and in good health. Contrary to earlier news reports, the reason John was hospitalized was because of an extremely high heart rate. We have let them know that the Mariners will do whatever we can to assist them.”
Wetteland was always a bit of a character. And, I don’t think you could call him a “shut down closer.” But, there was also something about the guy that I liked…and he was a big part of that 1996 ring team.
I hope this all works out well, in the end, for him.
Via the Daily News -
You’d expect Alex Rodriguez to have a bedroom filled with trophies – not bizarre portraits of himself.
US Weekly reports the Yankee’s slugger has commissioned paintings of himself – as a centaur.
But wait, it gets better – they’re hanging above the superstar athletes’ bed, according to the magazine.
“He was so vain. He had not one, but two painted portraits of himself as a centaur. You know, the half man, half horse figure,” scoffs an ex-girlfriend to the magazine. “It was ridiculous.”
Obviously, one lady doesn’t mind it. Hudson and A-Rod are hitting home-runs all the time.
“They love sex!” an insider reveals to Us Weekly. The celebrity couple, who began dating in May, apparently can’t keep their hands off one another. And when they can’t be close enough to touch, they’re talking about it. “They talk about it all day,” the same snitch says. “Kate gets graphic talking about his body, even to her parents.”
The magazine also reports Hudson is trying to make her beau less egotistical. But talking about his body all the time probably doesn’t help.
For those who don’t get the “White Goodman” reference – remember this character (below)?
Yup, it’s true. Best job at reading off the TelePrompter since Ron Burgundy…
But, maybe not the best week to be linked to something called “Biggest Loser,” eh? Heaven forbid some of that might rub off…
Via Jon Heyman -
Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman will be at ALCS Game 6 at Yankee Stadium as a guest of the Yankees, sources said.
The invitation is a not-do-subtle way of gaining an advantage in talks for the talented left-handed pitcher. Word is that Chapman is seeking a deal worth $40-60 million, and the Yankees and Red Sox could be gearing up for a battle.
The Cubs, Blue Jays, Rangers, Mets, Orioles and White Sox also have been mentioned as having interest.
But that’s a lot of money to pay for a pitcher who’s unproven as a big leaguer, and only the Yankees and Red Sox have a history of taking such a plunge (Boston paid $103 million for Daisuke Matsuzaka; the Yankees $32 million for Jose Contreras).
A few weeks back, I read this from Jim Callis on Chapman:
I won’t be surprised if Chapman gets three times as much as Stephen Strasburg’s draft-record $15.1 million contract. He’s a 22-year-old lefthander with a fastball clocked at 100 mph at the World Baseball Classic, and he’s on the open market—a potent combination. As one scout who saw him at the WBC said, “If you are looking for more than that in a pitcher, you’ll be searching your whole life.”
But here’s the kicker: Chapman never has dominated Cuba’s Serie Nacional. He’s much more of a thrower than a pitcher. Most of Cuban defectors haven’t lived up to their hype, and the last Cuban pitcher to attract this kind of fanfare was Jose Contreras. Contreras has three good seasons and a solid 71-63, 4.63 career, but expectations were that he’d deliver a lot more after signing a $32 million contract with the Yankees.
So, there you have it. In a way, Aroldis Chapman is the Cuban Andrew Brackman. So, I’m sure that Brian Cashman will break the bank to obtain him for the Yankees.
Via Josh Alper with a h/t to BBTF -
Vinny Milano, aka Bald Vinny, runs a website selling t-shirts designed to celebrate particular Yankee players and/or denigrate the opposition. One of his shirts honors Swisher’s habit of saluting the bleachers during the roll call that the bleacher denizens sing out to welcome each Yankee starter during the top of the first inning. Milano got one of the shirts to Swisher earlier this season, so he was dismayed to learn recently that Swisher had trademarked the phrase and that Modell’s was now selling the shirts.
On his Twitter account, Milano vented some anger toward Swisher for swiping his idea and profting from it.
“I just couldn’t believe he’d stab me in the back like that, because Swisher has been so cool to us,” Milano told the New York Post. “He’s such a fan favorite. I just couldn’t believe he’d betray me like that.”
As it turns out, though, Swisher isn’t worthy of a one-finger salute. While Swisher did trademark the phrase, the t-shirts on sale at Modell’s are produced by the Major League Baseball Players Association and, according to Swisher on Twitter, are being made without his consent. Per their agreement with the MLBPA, Swisher and all players get a share of total licensing monies from merchandise without particular attention paid to whose name is pushing the merch.
Makes we wonder why this never happened with those “Aaron Got Guiel!” shirts that I once had made…
…yes, I’m kidding…there are no such shirts…
Via the Miami New Times -
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is finally playing hero in the post-season. That whole notion of A-Rod-can’t-hit-in-the-clutch seems but a distant dream this October. Ditto for the steroid revelations that dominated sports pages this off-season and Spring Training. But Miamian Yuri Sucart, his cousin and right-hand man made infamous for his role in A-Rod’s ‘roid use, might still be dealing with the consequences. After being barred from MLB facilities, Sucart has hit some serious financial straits: His Kendall home is in the midst of foreclosure.
For about a week in February, after it was exposed that he provided Rodriguez with Dominican-bought steroids, 46-year-old Sucart became the national sports media’s most-chased figure. ESPN.com devoted 3,000 words to the man, “who was more like an older brother” to the superstar. Reporters camped outside his home, interviewed his cocker spaniel, and described his A-Rod-dependent financial situation. From the ESPN.com article:
It’s unclear what Sucart’s exact income is or has been, but friends say his compensation couldn’t be much. Sucart always seems, according to one friend, to “just be getting by.” The one-story house Sucart owns in South Miami-Dade sits on a beautiful estate, but from the street, it looks to be in rugged shape. Friends say the house is “a dump.”
Soon after he was implicated in the scandal, Sucart was banned from all MLB facilities — a devastating career blow to a professional right-hand man. And on August 12, US Bank began foreclosure proceedings, which are continuing, on the SW 94th Street home he and his wife Carmen purchased in June 2006. The 1,300-square-foot house sits on almost an acre. According to a claim made in Miami-Dade Court, the Sucarts owe $538,266.24 on the property they originally purchased for $675,000.
The Sucarts, who have two children, are notoriously media-shy and did not immediately return a message left by Riptide at their home.
If you’re wondering, the money owed on the mortgage represents less than three games’ salary for A-Rod, who made $33 million this season. So we gotta ask: Where’s the big-money cousin now?
Poor Yuri…young, dumb and naïve…and, now, possibly homeless. And, it doesn’t appear that cousin Alex is about to dip into the secret compartment of his ring that he fills with his A-Rod super energy pill and help him out any time soon…does it?
Via the Post –
The Yankees’ wives and girlfriends have been banned from trashing Kate Hudson after Page Six revealed there was coldness between her and Derek Jeter’s squeeze, Minka Kelly. We told how low-key Kelly disapproved of Hudson’s antics including cheering wildly from the front row and smooching A-Rod all over town. A source said, “The Yankees told the girls to be careful who they spoke to about Kate. They are concerned about the ramifications for the players.”
Here’s more on the whole Minka Kelly thing, for those who missed it back in August.
I’m really starting to get a Memo Paris vibe from Ms. Hudson…
How about you?
Via the Greeley Tribune -
Greeley native and former major league pitcher Shawn Chacon is wanted on a warrant for allegedly failing to pay $150,000 in gambling markers, the Las Vegas Sun is reporting today.
Chacon faces a felony charge of writing three bad checks for $50,000 each to Caesars Palace in March, according to the Sun’s report.
The high school baseball standout from Greeley Central High School signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics in June. He formerly pitched for the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros. He also was voted to the Major League All-Star team in 2003.
Well, I guess not every year can be as magic as 2005…
Via the Daily News -
Alex Rodriguez may be getting the best October surprise he’s ever had: Rumors have been swirling that his gal pal Kate Hudson is pregnant.
The Hollywood blond was photographed looking a teensy bit plump earlier this week, feeding the rumor mill that she’s up the duff. At the time she was snapped, Hudson was house-hunting with her Yankee lover of four months in Malibu.
But alas, Hudson’s rep, Brad Cafarelli, denies his client is expecting, which means she probably just ate a couple of extra nachos at Yankee Stadium. Apparently, A-Rod – who has two daughters with ex-wife Cynthia – didn’t score a home run this time.
Looks like Yuri Sucart just dodged the diaper duty bullet.
Via the Daily News -
Major League Baseball handed [Jorge Posada] a three-game suspension and fined him $3,000 for igniting a bench-clearing brawl with the Blue Jays.
Toronto reliever Jesse Carlson and Yankees reserve Shelley Duncan also received three-game bans while Toronto catcher Rod Barajas was fined $1,000. Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long and reliever Edwar Ramirez were fined undisclosed sums.
Both Posada and Carlson were originally suspended for four games apiece but basically plea-bargained their penalties to three games after agreeing not to appeal their punishment. Duncan is appealing and was available to play Wednesday night.
Shelley Duncan and Edwar Ramirez…They get the job done.
Skip this one if you’re not into the personal life dish stuff for your favorite Yankees…
Via Newsday -
What school would have a course entitled BOSS? None other than Steinbrenner High School, where opening day is Tuesday in Lutz, Fla., near the home of Yankees patriarch George Steinbrenner.
The $60 million structure in Hillsborough County is fairly state of the art, and there are reports that some parents have been angling to stretch the boundaries to have their children included in the district. There are no empty seats to be had in this structure, where nearly 2,000 students will report.
To quickly clear up any misconceptions, Steinbrenner did not buy his way into naming rights, though his largely financial “good deeds” certainly earned him the honor.
“Over the years, Mr. Steinbrenner has been deeply involved in the community, particularly with the schools and the school system,” said Steven Ayers, director of community relations for Hillsborough County public schools. “He’s been very involved and very philanthropic. He’s probably donated in tens of millions over the length of time.”
Steinbrenner High will have the usual old school subjects of English, math and science, but will kick it up a notch with offerings for students preparing for a career in sports. Sports marketing, sports medicine and the business of sports (BOSS), including George’s specialty of entrepreneurship, will be available in grades 9-12. But the 79-year-old Steinbrenner will be the only senior associated this year with the school, which begins with grades 9-11. A picture of him will also be displayed in the school.
The athletic teams, called the Warriors (Yankees was considered) will wear navy and gold uniforms (no names, of course) and, perhaps owing to the marketing sense of its namesake, school T-shirts are in pre-order for $10. Try comparing that to any similar piece of apparel at Yankee Stadium. Lunch at Steinbrenner will cost $2.75. That wouldn’t buy a hot-dog bun in the Bronx.
Go check out the website for Steinbrenner High School – and dig that intro music. We didn’t have stuff like that when I was in High School. Then again, I didn’t see my first PC until I was out of High School for eight years…
Here’s some info on Big Stein High’s baseball coach – via TampaBay.com -
Hillsborough County’s all-time winningest baseball coach is returning to the dugout.
Former Jesuit coach John Crumbley, who won 575 games and three state titles at Jesuit, has been hired to start the baseball program at Steinbrenner High School, the school announced Monday.
“I’ve missed it from the day I walked away,” Crumbley said. “The opportunity to start a new program at a school named after George Steinbrenner is exciting. I’m grateful for the 25 years I spent at Jesuit. There was never a day when I got up and didn’t want to go do my job.”
Crumbley’s contract as athletic director ends in May. He will begin at Steinbrenner, where he will also teach algebra, in August.
I wonder if Crumbley will have to worry about having Billy Connors looking over his shoulder and spying on him?
I was so tempted to go with the headline “Yanks Rodriguez Suspended For PED Use”…but, that would have been just silly…
…via mlb.com –
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that two Minor League players from the New York Yankees organization, pitchers Nestor de Leon and Ramon Rodriguez, have received 50-game suspensions after each tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Rodriguez tested positive for Boldenone, while de Leon tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol.
The suspensions of both players, who are members of the organization’s Dominican Summer League team, are effective immediately.
Oh, to be young, dumb and naïve…
Too bad these kids don’t play in the Red Sox chain…then they would have been given 9 days to come up with the excuse that the test results were caused by nutritional supplements and vitamins bought over the counter…
Via George King -
Slade Heathcott and John Murphy have until Monday at midnight to decide what their baseball future will look like and there are signs it will be in pinstripes since progress is being made and the talk now concerns details.
Heathcott, the Yankees’ No. 1 pick and 29th player taken overall in the June draft out of Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas, has to decide between the Yankees and playing outfield for national champion LSU.
Murphy, a catcher taken in the second round (76th) out of the Pendleton School in Bradenton, Fla., has an offer to play for Miami.
MLB has preached to teams to stick to their slotting program or face possible fines. A year ago the 29th pick, Lonnie Chisenhall, a junior college shortstop taken by Cleveland, received in the area of $1.2 million. MLB has suggested teams cut 10 percent off of last year’s price for high-round picks.
However, the dynamics some times don’t apply to high school players.
According to sources progress is being made with details being discussed.
“We are working on it,” GM Brian Cashman said of getting the first two picks inked before the deadline. If the deals don’t get done the players aren’t eligible to sign with the Yankees and not eligible for the draft again until they complete three years at LSU and Miami, respectively. “We will wait and see.”
Having drafted high school pitcher Gerrit Cole in the first round (28th player picked) and Ole Miss pitcher Joseph Bittle in the second round (75th) last year and didn’t sign either has made Cashman cautious.
“We learned some hard lessons in the past,” Cashman said. “Until you cross the finish line, get them signed and passing a physical, you never know.”
Cole opted for UCLA and Bittle failed a physical.
Odds are that they will both sign with the Yanks, in time. LSU and Miami are wonderful schools for baseball. But, we’re talking about a ton of money here. The true issue is probably that the Yankees are over slot and MLB wants to make them wait until the last minute to announce the deals – so that it doesn’t impact what some other drafts picks are holding out for…
I’m telling ya, if Minka tells Kate that she walks with no arm movements , it’s going to be war!
Via the Post with a h/t to Dom Amore -
She made it past third base with Alex Rodriguez, but Kate Hudson isn’t getting a warm reception at the plate from Minka Kelly, longtime squeeze of Yankee captain Derek Jeter.
At home games in The Bronx, things between the two photogenic actresses are frostier than the new stadium’s $9 beer, according to spies.
“There’s been visible coldness between Minka and Kate,” an insider told The Post’s Lachlan Cartwright. “I don’t know if it’s a personal thing, or just an extension of the ongoing A-Rod-Jeter rivalry.”
Our source added, “People are choosing sides.”
“Friday Night Lights” hottie Kelly has been dating Jeter since last year. Since then, she’s usually cheered him on from his private seats, kept a low profile and has rarely been photographed with him.
Then, high-profile Hudson arrived on the scene. She’s been snapped smooching A-Rod in the stands, and recently switched from sitting in a private box to hanging in the family seats, cheering on the team with Yankee wives including Amber Sabathia and Karen Burnett.
Hudson, who also enthusiastically attended the Bombers’ family picnic, seems to have gotten an early thumbs-up from veteran Yankee wives Michelle Damon and Laura Posada, whose stamp of approval is crucial, a source said.
Via My FOX in Tampa -
Yankees Superstar Derek Jeter wants some privacy. He’s building a multi-million dollar mansion on Davis Islands but he needs special permission for his fence. Tuesday night the Variance Review Board gave him the thumbs up to build it.
Jeter’s new mega mansion takes up three waterfront lots and, when it’s finished, may be the largest home in the county. It’s 31-thousand square feet, with seven bedrooms, and nine bathrooms — Exactly what you might expect from a baseball superstar making more than $21-million a year.
Jeter’s attorneys argue that a celebrity of his caliber needs extra security and protection. That’s why he wants to build a six foot privacy fence made of wrought iron and concrete around his home.
There’s no truth to the rumor that Lonn Trost intends to have Jeter’s new fence moved in nine feet from where the original fence was…
Via the Daily News -
A-Rod may have a new lucky charm.
The Yankee slugger’s latest girlfriend, movie star cutie Kate Hudson, loves to cheer him on from the stands – and he’s been on top of his game ever since they went public.
His batting average since their first public smooch on July 25 is running almost 25 points higher than his season average. And he’s socked two homers in the last three games – including a two-run blast that ended the marathon Friday night/Saturday morning game against the Red Sox.
The bubbly blond Hudson, 30, has been rooting for Alex Rodriguez all summer, laughing and waving from a front row seat at Yankee Stadium.
The News caught up with Hudson last night at Los Dados restaurant in the Meatpacking District and she declined comment – but smiled – when asked if she’s helped A-Rod’s game.
The two made their relationship official at the team’s family picnic day, cuddling and smooching for the cameras. Ever since, he’s been batting .283 – hitting two homers over the weekend and striking out less. He was 1 for 3 in last night’s game and his season average is .259.
Over the weekend, Hudson brought mom Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell to root for her new boyfriend. Meeting the parents is a nice-guy turn for A-Rod, who was linked to Madonna and a Vegas stripper before divorcing his wife Cynthia last year.
Hudson also went with the Yankees on their last two road trips, cheering on her man in Tampa Bay and Toronto.
She’s gotten none of the bad vibes Jessica Simpson faced from Dallas Cowboys fans, who blamed her for then-boyfriend Tony Romo’s poor performance.
The romantic comedy star apparently has made nice with the Yanks’ general manager, too – she and Brian Cashman have been spotted walking together through the tunnel under Yankee Stadium after a game.
Does that make Cashman Dupree?
Russ Ortiz signs minor league deal with Yankees.
Ortiz was recently released by the Houston Astros. Via mlb.com:
Based on his struggles over the past few weeks, Russ Ortiz wasn’t surprised when the Astros gave him the news Thursday that he was being placed on waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release.
Ortiz was hit hard in Thursday’s 12-3 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field, giving up nine runs and nine hits in 2 1/3 innings to fall to 3-6. He was 0-5 in his last 10 starts, including 0-3 with a 12.23 ERA in five starts in July. He can clear waivers Monday and sign with another team.
Houston called up right-hander Sammy Gervacio from Triple-A Round Rock, and he will join the team Friday in St. Louis.
“At this point of the year, playing teams like this, they don’t need to send anybody out there they feel like is not going to get the job done,” Ortiz said. “I told them I understand. This is an important time of the year, and they have a couple of young guys that can throw the ball well.
“I don’t know what they’re going to do, but they didn’t obviously feel like they can keep sending me out. I don’t want to pitch like this and not have them confident in me. Even though I never wanted this to happen, it’s part of the game.”
Since August 14, 2004, to date, Russ Ortiz has pitched in 93 major league games, going 366.3 IP, and fashioning an ERA of 6.58 (over that span).
You can add Ortiz to the following list of recent Yankees clever “vet pitcher” pick-ups: Sidney Ponson, Runelvys Hernandez, Jason Johnson, Mike Thurman, Casey Fossum, Josh Towers, Rolando Arrojo, Brett Tomko, Chad Ogea, Tim Redding, Willie Banks, Jeff Juden, Donovan Osborne and Scott Erickson.
But, then again, the Red Sox just brought back Paul Byrd. So, maybe the Yankees pick-up of Ortiz is their reaction to the Sox getting Byrd – like when Cashman signed Kei Igawa to counter the Sox picking up Daisuke Matsuzaka? (Yes, I’m kidding here.)
Via Bob Elliott -
A no-decision in what may have been [Roy Halladay's] final start in a Jays uniform, his 274th since breaking into the majors in September of 1998. He had worked what seems like his customary nine innings, allowing two runs — one earned — as the Jays fell 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays in 10.
“I don’t think J.P. blamed me for the trade talk,” Halladay said.
The 24,161 fans had other thoughts. The crowd gave Halladay one standing ovation after another, from the time he made the solitary walk, at a purposeful pace, from the bullpen at 7 o’clock, to when he left the mound after the eighth, again after the ninth and again when the big screen in centre field showed manager Cito Gaston slide alongside him.
A “Keep Doc, Trade J.P.” banner hung from the second deck in left.
Another sign read: “4 out of 5 doctors agree, trading Halladay causes sadness.”
Late in the game, either after a Vernon Wells fly ball or an Alex Rios strikeout, the chant went up from behind home plate in the 500 level: “Trade J.P.! Trade J.P!”
The 500 level, like the greys at Maple Leaf Gardens, are not filled with corporate types. There sit the true fans, or so we’ve heard. And the voices of reason continued the chant: “Trade J.P.! Trade J.P!”
We never heard that before, for Pat Gillick or Gord Ash.
Ricciardi said on Thursday, for the first time, that it was Halladay who informed the Jays he would test the free-agent market after the 2010 when his contract expires. Is this the same exit strategy as when the Jays attempted to portray Carlos Delgado as the bad guy?
And, as one scout asked early this week: “Why take out an ad on the guy? Why not try to keep it quiet?”
After all, the Jays have not announced that they were shopping Wells and Rios, but they are.
The scouting frenzy, meanwhile, tailed off last night. Charlie Kerfeld of the Philadelphia Phillies and Ricky Williams of the New York Yankees were the only scouts around.
The Phillies have been on Halladay since, oh, about spring training. The Jays have asked for prospect Kyle Drabek, who Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava watched at double-A Altoona, plus outfielder Michael Taylor or Dominic Brown and shortstop prospect Jason Donald.
The Yanks could be if right-hander Chien-Ming Wang needs season-ending shoulder surgery.
…Charlie Kerfeld of the Philadelphia Phillies and Ricky Williams of the New York Yankees were the only scouts around…
The Yankees are using a pot-smoking, baby-mama collecting, football player, to scout at the major league level? Well, that explains a lot…
And, yes, I’m just kidding. I know it’s not that Ricky Williams…
Via the Daily News -
Fresh from A radio interview in Spanish with 97.9 FM Tuesday morning, Laura Posada breezes along 56th St., into the lobby of the midtown Chambers Hotel, causing plenty of whiplash among the sidewalk traffic. Sporting heels, a short summer dress and a new Anna Wintour-style coif, the wife of the veteran Yankees catcher and the mother of two is making the publicity rounds for her reality TV debut, set to air tonight on the E! network.
“In the beginning, I was a little apprehensive. I wasn’t sure if it’s something I should do or not,” says Posada. “But then (the E! producers) explained what they were trying to do, which is really show what it is, for real, to be a baseball wife.”
Baseball fans and curiosity seekers who tune into “True Hollywood Story: Baseball Wives” tonight at 10 p.m. and expect to find scandals galore in the lives of the Posadas or the Hamelses (pitcher Cole Hamels of the Phillies and wife, Heidi) or other baseball families, might be surprised.
“People think that just because you’re married to a baseball player, that you’re dumb, that you’re a gold digger, that you’re an ex-stripper,” says Laura. “That’s not the way it is. I still haven’t met that one girl. Most of the girls that I know, that are baseball wives, are super sweet girls. They’re successful in their own right. I really hope that after people see this show, they realize that there’s a lot more than just what people think baseball wives are.”
Question: Would we even care about Laura if she wasn’t married to Jorge Posada and/or if she didn’t have huge implants and goods look in body paint?
Then again, they didn’t have fake fun bags and Sports Illustrated eye-candy editions back in the day of Eleanor Grace Twitchell Gehrig…so, who knows if this is just some form of era-adjusted baseball wife performance?
Yes, it’s time for our annual Jean Afterman sighting! Via Marc Topkin:
An upcoming promotion by the Rays’ Hudson Valley (N.Y.) minor-league team has turned into a bit of a battle of the sexes.
The (aptly named) Renegades planned Tuesday’s promotion to honor women by keeping men outside the gates for the first five innings, dressing their male employees in ladies clothing and offering spa treatments.
The idea, hatched by Tyler Tumminia, a female executive with the ownership group, was to spotlight women in baseball (Yankees assistant general manager Jean Afterman will throw out the first pitch) and salute the purchasing power of female fans.
But then the naysayers started squawking, with Duchess County officials requesting the promotion be canceled due to human rights issues and a sponsor, the New York Lottery, asking out (though several others bought in just for the night).
“It’s gotten a bit overblown,” said team president Jeff Goldklang, who has no plans to cancel. “We’re a bit surprised. We were trying to have a little fun, create a unique kind of Ladies Night and poke a little fun at the political correctness that’s taken over.”
Throwing out the first pitch at a home game for the Tampa Bay Rays Short-Season A-Ball Affiliate?
My, that Jean Afterman, she does get around, doesn’t she?
It will be interesting to see who leaves the major league roster to make room for Hinske this evening. Considering that the Yankees gave up two suspect prospects for Hinske, there’s little downside if he doesn’t work out in New York.
Via Our Sports Central -
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 3B Yurendell DeCaster is trading in his RedHawks pinstripes for a set of Yankees pinstripes.
The All-Star third baseman has had his contract purchased by the New York Yankees today and will report on Tuesday to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, the Triple-A affiliate for New York in the International League.
DeCaster, 29, joined the RedHawks this spring and was arguably the top player in the Northern League this season. Entering tonight’s play, DeCaster was leading the Northern League in hits (54), doubles (14), home runs (13), RBI (43) and slugging percentage (.682). He was batting .344, good for fifth in the league, and was second in runs scored with 36.
DeCaster was selected to the Great Plains team for the 2009 Northern League All-Star Game earlier today and was the top vote-getter in the league but will not participate in the game.
“For my money, he is one of the best players to ever come through the Northern League, and that is the caliber of player we like to have in RedHawks uniforms” said RedHawks Manager Doug Simunic. “We knew this day was coming and we are glad he can continue his career at the Triple-A level. Hopefully we can see him in Yankee Stadium sometime soon.”
DeCaster, far from being a kid, can play third, first, a little outfield, and, in a pinch, some second base. Perhaps he’s going to take the place of Eric Duncan, Marcos Vechionacci and Timothy Battle on the Yankees prospect list? (And, yes, I know, the Yankees finally got smart and recently released Battle.)
Via George King -
The Post has learned Xavier Nady’s season is over and next year is in question, too.
According to several teammates, the Yankees outfielder told them late Thursday night that his right elbow requires Tommy John surgery, a procedure that often takes 12-14 months recovery.
Reached today, all Nady said was, “I am going to have a lot of time on my hands.”
Nady, a free agent at the end of the season, felt something in the elbow in the third inning of a Triple-A rehab game Thursday night and removed himself two innings later. He plans on being at Citi Field today and is scheduled to see Dr. Lewis Yocum in California. Yocum performed the same surgery on Nady in 2001.
According to the Nady, “There was no reason to do tests” today.
Wow, a year later, that trade for Marte and Nady is not looking so good. Well, maybe, there’s a silver lining here? If the Yankees make the post-season this year, maybe they can use having Marte or Nady on the D.L. and pull one of those “K-Rod clause” moves and request permission from the commissioner’s office to replace someone on the post-season roster with a player from the minor league system, if it makes sense?
PeteAbe reported today that, about a half hour after the Yankees line-up was posted, Nick Swisher met behind closed doors with Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman – and then Melky Cabrera was pulled from the posted Yankees starting line-up and Swisher (who was not in the original line-up) was inserted into Cabrera’s place. Wonder what that was all about? Seems odd that Cashman was in Atlanta in the first place.
Could it be that there was some breaking news about Swisher which led to him being held out of the line-up, and for Cashman to get down to Atlanta, and then, after talking about it, Swisher convinced Girardi and Cashman into letting him play, anyway?
When I first read the Jon Heyman report this weekend, about the conference call between Alex Rodriguez, Brian Cashman, and Hal Steinbrenner where A-Rod was told that he was going to sit for two games, where Joe Girardi was not on the call, I just filed it away as one of those “Add Water” A-Rod Drama items without giving it much more thought.
However, driving in the car this morning, listening to Boomer and Carton on WFAN, I’m beginning to think this thing may have legs. The boys and their callers opined on this one quite a bit.
It seems that some are very into the timing of the benching – this being Miami, where A-Rod is king, etc. And, others are very into the matter that Girardi was not on the call. Some suggest that means that A-Rod and Joe don’t get along. Others think that the Yankees brass is setting Girardi up, somehow, with this move.
So, what do you think of this whole issue? Was my first impression correct – in that it’s just another sideshow in the A-Rod circus and “been there, done that”? Or, is this a sign of some bigger problem in the A-Rod, Cashman and Girardi love triangle?
George King follows up on his first Sanchez report with this (h/t to YanksBlog) -
According to several connections in the Dominican Republic, the Yankees and catching prospect Gary Sanchez have agreed to a $2.5 million deal.
Sanchez, 16, isn’t eligible to sign until July 2, but the Yankees’ dogged pursuit of the right-handed hitter has resulted in him wanting to sign with the club.
According to a Yankees source, who didn’t confirm or deny the agreement or money, nothing is guaranteed until a contract is signed.
“He is a big kid with a big arm,” a Latin American talent evaluator for an NL team said of the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Sanchez. “I would like to have him, but $2.5 million is a lot of money. He has a thick body. He is a real good hitter, but he doesn’t hit like Jesus Montero.”
The Yankees gave Montero, a catcher from Venezuela, $1.6 million in 2006 and he has impressed with the bat in two-plus years in the organization. After hitting .356 with eight homers and 37 RBIs in 48 games for Single-A Tampa, the 19-year-old Montero (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) was promoted to Double-A Trenton, where he is batting .283 with three RBIs in 13 games.
“Sanchez shows a lot of power in batting practice, but it doesn’t always transfer to games when the swing gets a little long,” the scout said. “He is an interesting guy.”
The Yankees are also interested in shortstop Miguel Angel Sano.
“If he is 16, I have never seen a 16-year-old with that type of body,” the scout said of the 6-foot-3 Sano.
Two Cuban defectors, lefty Noel Arguelles and shortstop Jose Iglesias, are on the Yankees’ radar. The pair left the World Junior Championships last summer in Edmonton and were cleared to negotiate with big league clubs June 12.
Two hundred and ten pounds, at sixteen, in a country known for its inadequacies with respect to proper nutrition? That either means he’s on something, or, will be a tub of goo by the time he’s here for a few years and hits all the fast food chains. That’s a red flag for me. Not so red that I wouldn’t sign him – but red enough that I would think twice about doing it for two-point-five mill.
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