• Not So Sweet Now

    Posted by on March 20th, 2013 · Comments (4)

    I liked Lou Piniella as a player. And, I am forever grateful for that play he made on October 2, 1978. I cannot imagine how miserable my life would have been if not for that play. Dealing with 2004 as an adult was bad enough. If something like that happened when I was 15-year old…well…I may have turned to the bottle or worse.

    And, I have no problem if someone wants to make a case that Piniella should be in the Hall of Fame as a manager someday.

    Yet, that all said…

    oh, my, God…is he terrible in the YES broadcast booth.

    It’s like listening to an old coot in some barbershop. Ugh.

    Q&A With Nancy Newman

    Posted by on March 4th, 2013 · Comments (0)

    Because you can never have enough Nancy Newman.

    (And, if you thought, for a split second, this was “T&A with Nancy Newman, then, shame on you!)

    Fordham Alum & Yankees Coverage

    Posted by on February 27th, 2013 · Comments (5)

    Ryan Ruocco, Kyle Kesses…

    ..what is it about the Fordham guys that the Yankees love so much? Or, is it Michael Kay opening the doors for them?

    Michael Kay Signs Multi-Year Extension With YES

    Posted by on January 28th, 2013 · Comments (12)

    The story.

    Shoot me now.

    Agreed, It’s For A Good Cause

    Posted by on January 28th, 2013 · Comments (0)

     

    Michael Kay Is A Dad

    Posted by on January 7th, 2013 · Comments (0)

    Congrats to him and his wife.

    Michael will be 52 on February 2nd. And, his wife will be 49 on May 2nd. Having a teen-ager while they are in their 60′s will keep them young, for sure.

    When Yankees Say “No” What Does It Mean To “YES”?

    Posted by on December 7th, 2012 · Comments (0)

    Via Bob Raissman -

    The Yankees’ current path of austerity (wasn’t it supposed to start in 2014 with the luxury-tax thing?) is made even more curious considering the pile of dough the Yankees are sitting on (over and above what they were already sitting on) after Fox purchased a 49% stake in YES last month for $2 billion. Not only do the Yankees get a slice of that pie, but another $420 million from Fox to nail down TV rights to Yankees games on YES through 2042.

    Add to that the cool $52 million per year the Yankees will begin collecting in 2014, their cut of Major League Baseball’s new eight-year TV deal with Fox, ESPN and Turner, and that’s some major moolah the organization seems reluctant to spend on acquiring players.

    If the Yankees keep tightening the purse strings and it eventually translates into a diminished product, the live gate will suffer. So will YES’ ratings. Even with a successful 2012 on the field, the Yankees averaged a 3.92 rating on YES, down 8.3% from 2011 and the network’s lowest Bombers household rating since 2003. If YES experienced this kind of slippage when the team was good, what happens to the ratings if the team goes south?

    It’s reasonable to wonder what the level of concern over all this is for Hal and We Are Family Steinbrenner. They view the Yankees in a more business-like manner than their father did. Their goal may just be to squeeze every nickel out of the franchise and start selling off assets. If you’re in it strictly for the money, and not World Series titles, that blueprint has a major upside for the owners.

    Just look at the cash they already pocketed in the YES deal with Fox. And in three years Fox has the option to buy 80% of YES, based on a valuation of $3.8 billion.

    What’s next, the team itself? Yankee officials say that won’t happen.

    So, maybe when it comes to the product on the field, and its ramifications for YES’ future, it’s Fox suits who should be concerned if Hal Steinbrenner keeps a lock on his pinstriped vault.

    “If this so-called fiscal responsibility becomes a permanent policy, Fox has something to be concerned with,” one network executive said. “YES became what it is because it sells winning, superstars and the grand Yankee tradition. If two-thirds of the equation (winning/superstars) disappears, down go the ratings and revenue. The subscriber fees may stay flat, but if the product stinks those fees are not going up.”

    Maybe it’s too early to be concerned about this? But, maybe not? For sure, over the next three seasons, as each year passes, we will get a better idea on where the “After Big Stein” Yankees are heading…

    YES Network Not Losing Their Yankees Blinders

    Posted by on November 24th, 2012 · Comments (6)

    Via Richard Sandomir -

    Fear not, Yankees fans: the YES Network’s Yankees propaganda will continue even if News Corporation increases its ownership stake in the channel from 49 percent, which it agreed to purchase Tuesday, to as much as 80 percent in three years.

    The deal cedes to the Yankees continued control of pinstripe content even if the team owns as little as 20 percent.

    And why would Fox Sports, the division of News Corporation that owns 19 regional sports networks, want to alter YES’s Yankees propaganda formula? It has served YES so well that it will be valued at $3.8 billion if News Corporation buys majority control. Carrying the Nets did not make YES valuable. It’s about Yankees games; the pre- and postgame shows; the “Yankeeography” series and replays of games; and the “Yankee Classics,” in which the Yankees never lose. (They have lost classic games, but YES does not show them.)

    Earlier this year, when YES was celebrating its 10th anniversary, I talked to Randy Levine, the Yankees’ president, and Tracy Dolgin, who runs YES, about the unashamedly pro-Yankees slant of the network’s announcers and the absence of a news operation like the one on SNY. “We tell our people if you want to be bipartisan and fair, don’t work for YES,” Levine said.

    As for carrying a nightly news show, like SNY’s “SportsNite,” Dolgin said: “News is a loser. If you want news, watch ESPN.”

    Fox will, of course, bring some of its programming to YES. That was one reason to make the deal. It needs a New York outpost, especially as it starts a national sports network that is, for now, called Fox Sports 1. But tinker with the propaganda? Never.

    The Yankees, clearly, with this approach, feel that their faithful are a bunch of fanboys who crave nothing but pro-Yankees pablum. And, I find that to be very insulting.

    From Jacob Ruppert To Rupert Murdoch?

    Posted by on November 19th, 2012 · Comments (21)

    Via Wally Matthews today-

    Rupert Murdoch is knocking on the door of Yankee Stadium. How long will it be before he owns the entire building, and everything in it?

    According to a New York Times report, News Corporation, the multi-media behemoth run by Murdoch, is on the verge of acquiring 49 percent of the YES Network.

    A senior New York Yankees official, who insisted upon anonymity, confirmed the impending deal, although the official insisted it was merely “the stockholders looking to monetize their investment.”

    “This has nothing to do with selling the team,” the official said. “Under no circumstances will the team be sold.”

    And up until a few months before his death in 2010, George M. Steinbrenner was still running the Yankees, every bit as forceful and in command as he had been when he bought the team for $8 million in 1973.

    The point is, nothing is ever precisely the way the New York Yankees portray it to be.

    George was in charge, until he wasn’t. Joe Torre was the manager, until he was fired. And the team isn’t up for sale.

    Until it is.

    The sale of nearly half of the YES Network to Rupert Murdoch may be as simple as the senior team official says it is, an expedient way for Goldman Sachs, which makes its living buying and selling off assets, to score a cool $1.5 billion or more on its 10-year-old investment.

    Or it could be the first step in an exit strategy designed to get the Steinbrenner family out of the baseball business within the next three to five years.

    There is compelling evidence to support both arguments. With many large corporations looking to cash out on investments before an expected corporate tax increase in 2013, it would seem to be the right time for Goldman Sachs to dump its share in the YES Network.

    But in order for News Corp to acquire 49 percent of YES, a figure that the team official confirmed, Murdoch will need to buy more than just Goldman’s 40-percent share of the network. How much of the remaining nine percent will come from the Yankees’ 34 percent share is not known.

    The fact that the Yankees are not taking the opportunity to increase their own share of YES to 51 percent, to insure they retain control of their own network, indicates that they are willing eventually to cede that to Murdoch — who reportedly will have the option of increasing his share of YES to 80 percent within five years.

    I can just see Larry Lucchino now, bitching about phone-tapping…

    YES Network Now Worth $3 Billion?

    Posted by on November 18th, 2012 · Comments (6)

    They’ve come a long way from being the home of White Shadow re-runs and a movie with Yogi…

    Via the Times:

    News Corporation is on the verge of acquiring up to 49 percent of the YES Network from the Yankees and their partners, according to three people familiar with the negotiations. The purchase price for the noncontrolling stake is based on a valuation of the channel at slightly more than $3 billion.

    Even a minority stake in YES would be a prize for News Corporation, whose Fox Sports division owns 19 regional sports networks around the country. YES is the most valuable regional sports network, having built its appeal on televising Yankee games, pre- and postgame shows and the “Yankeeography” series to a large, rabid fan base.

    YES, which also televises Nets basketball games, has served as a model for other team, league and college-conference-owned channels.

    Although News Corporation prefers to have 100 percent ownership of its regional networks, it would be able to share in the profits of YES. And according to the people familiar with the discussions, who spoke late last week, the deal would provide News Corporation a route to eventual control of YES — an option would exist in three to five years for the company to increase its investment to as much as 80 percent. But at that point, the price would be based on a valuation of at least $3.5 billion.

    The people who spoke of the deal were not authorized to speak publicly because negotiations were continuing. News Corporation and Yankee officials declined to comment.

    The potential price for a News Corporation stake in YES underscores the soaring value of live sports and sports networks. Indeed, at $3 billion, YES would be worth more than the Yankees themselves. The Los Angeles Dodgers were sold earlier this year for a record $2.15 billion — largely on the likelihood that approaching TV negotiations will yield an enormous local television deal from a swelling group of potential bidders.

    Through their holding company, Yankee Global Enterprises, the Yankees own 34 percent of YES; another 40 percent is owned by Goldman Sachs and Providence Equity, and the remainder is held by some former owners of the Nets, who operate under an entity called Community Youth Organization.

    At some point the Yankees would have to sell some of their stake for News Corporation to reach 80 percent. That decision would rest with Hal Steinbrenner, the team’s managing general partner, who succeeded his late father, George, as the family member overseeing the team. Since YES’s start nearly 11 years ago, Yankee management has exercised control over the pro-Yankee tone of YES; if News Corporation acquires the majority of the network, YES could turn into a more conventional, less-biased sports network.

    The deal could also include other payments to the Yankees, including higher rights fees.

    Who Slapped A-Rod’s Ego More, Torre Or Girardi?

    Posted by on October 11th, 2012 · Comments (12)

    Did you see on the YES post-game coverage last night where Michael Kay said that Joe Girardi pinch-hitting for Alex Rodriguez was a bigger snub for A-Rod than when Joe Torre batted Alex eighth in the 2006 ALDS?

    This got me wondering which was a bigger blow to the ego? And, I tried to picture how I would feel as a player in these spots.

    To me, being told that I am batting eighth says to me: “We feel like there are seven other guys in the line-up who are better than you right now. And, we’re not confident that you will be able to do better than them in a big spot. But, we’re not taking you out of the game. So, you still have a chance to make an impact – if you can.”

    But, being told that I am being lifted for a pinch-hitter says to me: “We feel like there’s a much better option now than you. And, we don’t think you have a chance in this big spot compared to someone else who is available. Rather than see you bat, we’re taking you out of the game.”

    That said, I have to agree with Kay – and that’s not something that I usually would do…

    How about you, what do you think?

    David Cone Calls Ichiro’s Bat A Chopstick During Broadcast

    Posted by on October 3rd, 2012 · Comments (6)

    Via the Sun -

    David Cone might have some explaining to do after a comment he made during Tuesday night’s broadcast of the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox game.

    Cone referred to the bat used by Yankees outfielder Ichiro Suzuki as a “chopstick” on the YES Network’s broadcast of the game. Ichiro is a native of Japan.

    The remark caused an outcry from fans on social media.

    Cone, 49, was a starting pitcher in MLB between 1986 and 2003. He played for the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Yankees and Red Sox. He’s won five World Series — one with the Jays in 1992 and four with the Yankees in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000.

    Ichiro was a star in Japan before joining the Seattle Mariners in 2001, a team he played for until he was traded to the Yankees earlier this season.

    It’s not as bad as a Howard Cosell/Alvin Garrett moment. But, Conie’s going to hear it on this one. If he gets bounced for this matter, who’s going to be responsible for explaining WAR to Michael Kay?

    Yanks Will Be On WCBS-880 AM In 2013

    Posted by on August 31st, 2012 · Comments (1)

    The story.

    That was quick, no?

    Less YES?

    Posted by on August 18th, 2012 · Comments (14)

    Bob Raissmann writes about the YES Network -

    Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network suits rotate six different analysts in their Bombers booth. If they put a premium on chemistry and overall performance they would use only two — Paul O’Neill and David Cone.

    Their work together during the recent Texas-Yankees series again showed their ability to make each other better. They make it hard to bail — even during a Yankees blowout. This kind of chemical balance can’t be taught. It doesn’t come from a micromanaging producer. And it isn’t the result of being led around by a play-by-play voice.

    This all comes naturally for O’Neill and Cone. For example, O’Neill often plays the fool when he goes solo with Michael Kay. O’Neill’s forced persona, a shticky substance, takes precedence over his edge as an analyst. When teamed with Cone, O’Neill’s sense of humor flows naturally and doesn’t dominate.

    The two analysts make Kay better, too. He sticks to his role as third wheel giving his partners room to maneuver.

    Cone is most effective playing off O’Neill, counter analyzing. They don’t often debate, but see the game from two different perspectives. Cone, who also talks about the business of baseball, is a smart guy (at least when it comes to baseball), but he never talks down to viewers. He’s got plenty of wise guy in him. When it collides with O’Neill’s bumpkinish approach it produces a very unique insight into the game.

    They can be very subtle. It’s an outstanding quality. O’Neill and Cone leave plenty of space for viewers to read between the lines. Like Tuesday night when they were paying tribute to their former colleague Jim Kaat, who was working the game for MLB Network.

    They went to great lengths to describe Kaat’s broadcasting genius. It got to the point where their implication was clear: If Kaat is so good why isn’t he still with YES?

    Then again, that would add another analyst to the cast of voices. Seriously though, we wonder how good Cone and O’Neill would become if they worked a Big Boys schedule (like Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling on SNY) where they did 80 or more games?

    The results could be sensational. Yet the reality is O’Neill likely wouldn’t want to work that many games and, for whatever reason, the brainiacs running YES are allergic to continuity.

    And overjoyed because there’s no luxury tax on announcers.

    I love Paul O’Neill in the YES booth. He’s the closest thing to the Scooter since the Scooter. And, Cone is refreshing.

    If John Flaherty and Al Leiter were sent packing, I don’t think it would bother me all that much. But, I would hate to lose Ken Singleton.

    Maybe the answer is to make it O’Neill, Kay and Cone – and fill in with Singleton only when O’Neill or Cone cannot make it?

    John Sterling’s Lowest Moment?

    Posted by on August 9th, 2012 · Comments (7)

    Source.

    WFAN Moving To FM & Taking Yankees With Them?

    Posted by on July 6th, 2012 · Comments (6)

    John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman in stereo? A warble in one speaker and crying in the other? Could it be?

    Via Jerry Barmash:

    Coming off its silver anniversary celebration, WFAN most powerful all-sports station in America, may be positioning itself for a dramatic dial switch to FM.

    Several factors are at play for WFAN to make that leap of frequency: First and foremost is last month’s announcement that CBS Sports Radio is being created. Original 24-hour programming will air on station’s throughout the country starting in January. But as early as September, CBS Sports Radio will provide updates to affiliated stations.

    One of those stations poised to take some of the network content is WFAN. Operations manager Mark Chernoff remains steadfast in the future of 660 AM.

    “WFAN is locally programmed, no change.”

    But there is much more to this story.

    ESPN got its much-coveted FM home in New York at 98.7 in April. Ratings have immediately been impressive. But beyond that, FM is not just attractive to listeners and advertisers, it’s attractive to sports franchises.

    The Yankees, heard on WCBS, are languishing through 2012 without a contract, in effect, like a lame duck president. They will be the biggest, off-season free-agent signing.

    A former CBS Radio employee, who asked to remain anonymous, tells FishbowlNY that the Yankees are likely done with WCBS.

    “If anything, they will go to the ‘FAN or WEPN FM,” the source says. “Whoever doesn’t get the Yankees will get the Mets, but there is a chance WFAN could try for both and clear the Mets on 660 and the Yankees on FM.”

    Despite the stronger night time signal AM offers, the Bombers will likely dictate the need for being on FM.

    “What the Yankees want to do is what the Giants have been doing, hold the broadcast rights and ‘lease’ time on a station,” the source adds. “WFAN then gets a guaranteed amount and loses the overhead of having to sell the spots while the Yankees retain total creative control and they have endless potential to profit as they sell spots. But it’s easier for those spots to be sold on FM even thought FM doesn’t have the full ‘reach’ like AM does.”

    Michael Kay’s Twitter War

    Posted by on June 5th, 2012 · Comments (3)

    Via Bob Raissman

    Michael Kay, the TV voice of the Yankees, the most storied franchise in sports, is not above mucking it up in a Twitter war — with a college kid. Wonder if Mel Allen and Red Barber would engage in such hijinx if Twitter was around in their day?

    And wonder what George Steinbrenner would think of the voice of his franchise telling a Twitter adversary: “LOL. What a punk. Twitter tough. Enjoy your miserable, ugly, insecure existence.”

    Kay, who also hosts ESPN-98.7′s afternoon drive show, clearly still has plenty of time on his hands.

    This epic Twitter “battle” was only a few posts away from “I’m rubber your glue.”

    It started when the kid, @JoeHendler9, said he would be listening to WFAN’s Mike Francesa. Kay replied by pointing out Francesa would not be on because the Mets were playing.

    “….Know stuff if ur a smart guy,” Kay tweeted. “Ohh, sry I forgot even better. I know you have it marked on your calendar everytime francesa isn’t up against you,” Hendler replied.

    Things went on and on and down hill from there. Very entertaining. Enough so for Kay to do a Twitter war of the week.

    At some point, I wonder, if Kay’s ESPN job will ever cost him his gig with the Yankees?

    Today’s Yankeeland News: Booze & Steroids

    Posted by on February 9th, 2012 · Comments (3)

    First, this via the AP -

    YES Network television host Bob Lorenz has been charged with drunken driving in Connecticut where police say he was found passed out in his car in his hometown of Westport.

    The 48-year-old Lorenz was arrested early Wednesday morning. Police say they found him slumped over the wheel of his car and when they woke him up he drove away slowly and nearly hit a utility pole. Officers say his speech was slurred and he smelled of alcohol.

    Lorenz hosts pregame and postgame shows for the New York Yankees and New Jersey Nets. He was arraigned Wednesday at Norwalk Superior Court and his case was continued to Feb. 29.

    There’s no phone listing for Lorenz and it’s not clear if he has a lawyer. A Yes Network spokesman declined to comment.

    And, then there’s this from the Daily News -

    The woman accused of stalking and blackmailing Yankees GM Brian Cashman has injected steroids into the sordid mix.

    From Rikers Island, Louise Meanwell claimed Wednesday that Cashman told her he misled federal investigators over what the Bombers’ brass knew of steroid use by players.

    Meanwell, who claims she had an affair with Cashman, told the Daily News that Cashman confided to her that he was grilled in June or July by “the feds.”

    She said Cashman told her he made it seem like the Yankees had no knowledge of players’ steroid use when, in fact, they did.

    Cashman’s spokesman Chris Giglio vehemently denied the accusations.

    “These claims are complete and utter fiction, the latest installment of a carefully concocted campaign of harassment now spewing from a jail cell by a person who is being held on serious criminal felony charges of harassment and extortion,” Giglio said.

    A friend of Meanwell’s told The News he sent an email to federal investigators advising them of her claims.

    The friend said he sent the email to Ron Gardella, chief investigator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and FBI agent Brian Jacob.

    The email, obtained by The News, went on to say that Meanwell had “specific details” on dates and times that Cashman was aware of steroid use by players.

    Both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office refused to confirm or deny that Meanwell had informed them of her claims.

    Cashman was on prosecutors’ witness list for Roger Clemens’ trial on perjury charges last July before Judge Reggie Walton declared a mistrial on the first day of the proceedings in Washington. Walton has scheduled a new trial for April.

    I’m sure the Mets don’t mind the Yankees making the headlines with all this “stuff” and taking the spot-light off them and all their problems…

    Kim Jones Leaves Yankees YES Network

    Posted by on January 25th, 2012 · Comments (9)

    Here is the story.

    Don’t feel bad Yankees fans. Look at the Red Sox, they lost Heidi Watney. I’m sure that YES can find another field reporter who is willing to eat meat on a stick.

    Yankees Go Up Against MLB Network Intentional Talk

    Posted by on November 9th, 2011 · Comments (1)

    Watch out Rose & Millar.  Via the YES Network -

    Former Yankees player and coach Willie Randolph, who most recently had been a coach with the Orioles and the Brewers, will join host Bob Lorenz in the studio when the YES Network premieres its Yankees Baseball Daily show this Monday, November 14, at 7 pm. Randolph will make regular appearances on Yankees Baseball Daily, YES’ five-night-a-week show which will cover the moves of not only the Yankees but all of MLB.

    Also on Monday, Yankees Baseball Daily will feature the first part of a two-part interview which YES Yankees reporter Jack Curry conducted with Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman. The second part of the interview will air on Yankees Baseball Daily on Tuesday, November 15.

    Along the way this Hot Stove season, YES’ team of Bob Lorenz, Jack Curry, John Flaherty and Kimberly Jones will tap the most trusted sources in the New York market to contribute to the show.

    Not to be out-done, the Boston Red Sox announced that they will now have a show that airs six nights a week starting at 6:59 PM hosted by Joe Castiglione and Marty Barrett…

    Yanks Give 880 Another Year

    Posted by on October 28th, 2011 · Comments (13)

    Via Bob Raissman

    The Yankees will be staying on WCBS Radio – For at least one more year.

    Radio sources say the Bombers will sign a one-year extension with WCBS-AM, its radio home for the past 10 seasons.

    Sources said ESPN-1050 was in the running for the Yankees radio package, but Yankees brass had issues with 1050′s weak signal.

    With the package staying at WCBS it’s likely Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling, aka, Ma and Pa Pinstripe, will return to the radio microphones for the 2012 season.

    John Sterling is likely to return to Yankees radio booth after sources say Bombers will ink a new deal with WCBS-AM.

    Sounds like ESPN told the Yankees that they should have a stronger signal in 2013.

    I figure that the Yankees want to be aligned with an all-sports talk station at some point, like the Mets have with WFAN.

    Now, it would really be cool if the Yankees started their own radio station…which I think I suggested in the past, here, once before…

    Getting To Know John “Jack” Sloss, Harry Moskowitz, John Sterling…Or Whatever His Name Is…

    Posted by on October 5th, 2011 · Comments (13)

    This is a great read on John Sterling

    At some point, the Yankees are going to pull the plug on him.  I just wonder who will get his job…

    YES, A Sense Of Humor

    Posted by on July 23rd, 2011 · Comments (5)

    Today’s YES Network Totoya Text Poll is a good one:

    In a movie about the YES Network, who would play Michael Kay?

    • Jeff Garlin
    • Jim Belushi
    • John Goodman
    • Kiefer Sutherland
    • Vince Vaughn

    Funny stuff.

    Word To Michael Kay

    Posted by on July 8th, 2011 · Comments (2)

    You did a great job when Jeter passed the Iron Horse – allowing the video and crowd reaction to tell the story after it happened.  Please do the same when he gets hit #3,000.

    Booth Boys

    Posted by on June 14th, 2011 · Comments (12)

    Six years ago, I said that I would go with Ken Singleton, Jim Kaat and Paul O’Neill for every game in the YES booth.  But, you know what?  Michael Kay, Al Leiter and Paul O’Neill seem to really have fun in the booth together.  I actually don’t mind Kay in this set-up.  I could live with that too – and then use Ken Singleton and/or David Cone as a fill in when someone needed a day off.  What about John Flaherty?  Put him on the radio with Jack Curry…would that work?

    Bob Lorenz & John Flaherty Working Yanks Series In Motown

    Posted by on May 2nd, 2011 · Comments (9)

    I guess the rest of the YES boys don’t want to spend four days in Detroit, if they can avoid it.

    Seven Types Of Sterling Homer Calls

    Posted by on April 10th, 2011 · Comments (6)

    Joe jolts it…simply Delessioso!

    DirecTV: If Tube Goes Black, Blame Yanks

    Posted by on April 1st, 2011 · Comments (2)

    Via WFAN -

    If you were watching the Yankees’ home opener Thursday afternoon, you probably noticed a commercial on YES urging fans to “be heard” in the network’s ongoing contract battle with DirecTV.

    An updated video posted to the YES website ominously states, “Attention DirecTV subscribers: The YES Network’s current agreement with DirecTV expires tonight. Starting tomorrow you may lose your entire season of Yankees baseball on YES.

    “We’ve been working diligently towards new deal but despite our continued negotiations, DirecTV may cease to carry the YES network. We’re doing everything we can to resolve this situation and ensure a full season of Yankees baseball on YES.”

    As of 11:59 p.m. Friday, the TV home of the Yankees and Nets will be without an agreement with DirectTV. Whether YES will actually be pulled off the air is unclear.

    “DIRECTV plans to keep the channel up while we conclude these negotiations,” said the satellite provider in a statement. “However, if the channel should go dark for any reason, make no mistake that it was solely the decision of YES Network to take the channel away from DIRECTV customers.”

    Remember the YES and Cablevision 16-month dispute? Will this one top that? Sad, if it does…

    YES Censoring Affiliated Bloggers?

    Posted by on January 26th, 2011 · Comments (11)

    I’m a little late to the party on this one. Just saw this news via Greg Cohen.

    Shocking? Not really.

    This I can share: In the two years that I was a member of the blog network for SportsNet New York’s official website, SNY.tv, from 2008 to 2010, I was never asked – ever – to rescind or retract something that I posted. Stress that: Never, ever – at all.

    But, it seems YES has a different policy with their bloggers. Something to keep in mind when you read the YES affiliated bloggers, now, I assume…

    If this is all true, you can expect the YES blogs to always feed the fanboy Yankees-blinders and Pinstripe-Pollyanna throng all the pablum that they crave, but, that’s it – and nothing more.

    Yankees/YES Trying To Hide Cashman At Soriano Presser?

    Posted by on January 19th, 2011 · Comments (10)

    Reportedly, Rafael Soriano’s new contract with the Yankees represents the fifth highest average salary ever paid to a relief pitcher.  Only Mo Rivera, Brad Lidge, K-Rod and Joe Nathan made more on an annual basis than what New York will pay Soriano.

    And, the press conference to officially announce his deal is today at 10 am ET. And, what’s on the YES Network right now at ten AM?   Not the press conference.  Instead, it’s a Yankees Classics game from 2009. Why? Is this not big enough news for YES to carry live? Or, are they trying to hide something here?

    At least the Baseball Channel at MLB.com is broadcasting this one.

    Update: 10:20 am ET. The press conference finally starts. Levine, Cashman, Girardi, Trost, and Afterman are there from the Yankees front office. Cashman talks first. Basically says nothing for ten seconds and then hands the podium to Girardi.

    Girardi gives Soriano uniform #29 and Cashman places a Yankees cap on Soriano’s head. It’s photo-op time.

    Update: 10:25 am ET. Soriano speaks. It’s all in Spanish. Yankees have a translator there to help him with the media Q&A. Soriano says he’s happy to set up Mo now but he hopes to be the Yankees closer in the future.

    Update: 10:34 am ET. Soriano still doing Q&A. And, I think I figured out why YES is not carrying this one. The presser is about as exciting as being stuck in traffic on Geroge Washington Bridge. Soriano is 31-years old and has been playing baseball in America since 1999. But, evidently, he’s got no ability to speak any English.

    Update: 10:35 am ET. Soriano is done. That’s it – Jason Zillo says they will break into groups now in the back of the room for media members to ask questions informally. MLB.com drops the feed. Wow. A whopping 15 minutes. I guess we’ll have to read the papers to get the Cashman reaction to any questions.

    Update: 11:13 am. Via Peter Botte – Cashman: “Its not my team. I don’t own it. They do…In any job you better be prepared for every decision to not go your way. I think 29 other GMs would love to have their owner shove Rafael Soriano down their throat.”

    Down their throat, or, up their poop chute, Cash?

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