Hazel Mae Vs. Kim Jones

Hazel Mae left the New England Sports Network this year and will become the on-air face of the MLB Network (which is set to launch on January 1, 2009).

I wonder if Kim Jones was up for that MLB job too? For the record, Mae is exactly seven months younger than Jones. So, maybe MLB just wanted a younger person… [wink]

September 29, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 9 Comments

See Ya! (Through 2011)

Per Neil Best (with a hat tip to XM MLB Chat) -

Michael Kay has re-signed for another three years as YES’ Yankees play-by-play man, which will take him through his 10th season with the network…

Ah, three more years of hearing pretentious sesquipedalia verba and tediously repetitive phrases. Oh, boy, I can’t wait…

September 16, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 6 Comments

YES, Yanks, Are You Listening?

Well, if you are…I just wanted to say I would be more than willing to participate…if you wanted to copy (on Yankees Magazine?) the great idea that SNY and the Mets recently had with respect to team bloggers for a feature on Mets Weekly. (Hat tip: CSTB.)

August 19, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 4 Comments

Mary Ann Kaat Passes

Watching the Yankees game, on YES, this evening, I was saddened to hear the news about Jim Kaat’s wife passing. Bob Raissman had a report on it as well:

Heartfelt condolences to Jim Kaat, whose wife Mary Ann, 64, died yesterday after suffering complications from the bladder cancer she was diagnosed with in 2004.

Kaat, who retired from the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network booth following the 2007 season, said the family will hold a private service in Ripon, Wis. A celebration of Mary Ann’s life will be held later this year at Kaat’s Florida home.

Actually, Kitty retired after the 2006 season - and not 2007 as Raissman wrote. Nonetheless, hearing of Mrs. Kaat’s illness, now, it makes sense as to why Jim retired (when he did) to travel about the country in an RV with his bride.

I’m glad that the Kaat’s had a chance to be together as much as they were during 2007. And, I hope that Jim realizes that death only ends life, and, not relationships. His wife will always be with him - and nothing can ever change that.

July 21, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 2 Comments

S.I.’s “King of Swing” Dissed By YES Gaffe

Yankee Stadium Insider has the story and the video. Way back when, Paul Katcher had the audio from Earl Weaver that slipped out over the air this evening. (It’s NSFW or the kiddies. But, it’s an absolute classic if you’ve never heard it before…)

Terry Crowley, after the game, about YES said: “They’re the artists, I’m the canvas. They paint the picture the way they want to.” (Yeah, I’m kidding about that last part.)

May 22, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 1 Comment

Looking At Yankeeland’s Max Mercy

My Pinstripes takes apart Michael Kay with their feature “Michael Kay, Yea or Nay?”

It’s a read worth checking out.

April 28, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 1 Comment

Cone On Kennedy Getting Yanked

Yankee Stadium Insider has the smoking gun on this one. (Hat tip to Subway Squawkers.)

Too bad there was no happy ending for Ian on this one.

April 10, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | Leave a Comment

New Feature On YES Network Site

The YES Network has a fun little feature up now with some historical Yankees stats. Click here to see it.

At least I think it’s new. Happy clicking!

March 28, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 2 Comments

The Joe Girardi Show

Via the YES Network site with a hat tip to BaseballThinkFactory.org:

The Joe Girardi Show, a weekly half-hour show presented in high-definition featuring first-year New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, will premiere on the YES Network (www.yesnetwork.com) on Sunday, April 6, at 5 pm ET, immediately following the Tampa Bay-Yankees post-game show. A new episode of The Joe Girardi Show will premiere each Sunday during the season.

On his show, Girardi, a former Yankees analyst on YES, will discuss the overall state of the Yankees, review the team’s previous performances and dissect its upcoming schedule. In addition to his weekly YES show, Girardi will participate in weekly chat sessions on YESNetwork.com.

Let’s just hope this is not something that gives Randy Levine an excuse to whisper into Kim Jones’ ear. O.K., seriously, I’m looking forward to this - it could be very interesting. Or, then again, it could be a weekly puff piece - like a Yankees On Deck for adults. Time will tell.

March 10, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 3 Comments

Just 11 More Days…

Until that first exhibition game coverage (this year) on YES. Anyone else jonesing for some live Yankees baseball, on TV, really bad?

February 20, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 1 Comment

Raissman: YES Make Hughes Look Like A Fool?

From Bob Raissman:

Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network suits have already cast aspersions on George Mitchell’s report on steroids in baseball.

After watching YES’ “Hot Stove” feature on Phil Hughes, it appears, according to YES, certain allegations made about Roger Clemens don’t really exist. They are imaginary - just like the Tooth Fairy.

Much of the Hughes piece shows the pitcher going through his daily offseason workout regimen (lifting weights, etc.) at the Yankees’ Tampa facility.

At one point in the story, Hughes says: “God-given ability can only get you so far, then it’s up to you to maximize that. Even if I can just take a little bit of what Roger did for us last year, (to) see the way he works out … see the way he goes about his business, it kind of gives you an idea of what you need to do to stay in this game as long as he did.”

It seems the “idea” of what Clemens needed to do “to stay in this game as long as he did” is contained in Mitchell’s report. Or, at least, allegations of what Clemens did. In the report, Clemens’ former trainer, Brian McNamee, alleges that the seven-time Cy Young Award winner had been juicing since 1998.

If the Hughes feature was shot before the Mitchell Report came out, it would have been a good idea for YES - perhaps through “Hot Stove” host Bob Lorenz - to mention that fact. And if the Hughes interview was shot after the report was released, well, YES made the young pitcher look like a fool.

Someone should have edited the Clemens line out of the story. Unless, of course, it was left in on purpose to further discredit Mitchell’s report.

Probably not the best choice of words for Phil. But, he’s a kid. You have to cut him some slack there. Still, I agree, YES should have used some better judgment and some editing on that one.

February 3, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 3 Comments

Cone To Join YES Booth

Joel Sherman has the story.

Can’t wait for the first Cone-Leiter debate.

I wonder if it will be anything like this:

January 28, 2008 | Filed Under YES Network | 4 Comments

One Cool Kaat

Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune has a nice feature up today - getting us up-to-date with Jim Kaat.

The Yankees rewarded Kaat for his excellence with generous pay, but they were unable to talk him out of retirement after the 2006 season. He went home to Stuart, Fla., and started making plans with his wife, Mary Ann, to see the country in their Itasca-Meridian model Winnebago.

“We left Florida at the end of May and didn’t get back until the middle of November,” Kaat said. “We traveled 10,400 miles through 27 states, with stops at 60 different golf courses and twice as many art galleries.

“Mary Ann doesn’t golf, so she brushes the cats while I’m playing golf, and then I pay her back by visiting art galleries.

“We hit every state where we have relatives. We saw every brother, sister, son, daughter, grandchild, niece and nephew we could find.”

“I know it’s fashionable for retired people to get on a plane, fly to Europe, then come home and talk about how great Rome is,” Kaat said. “To each his own, but I’d say to those people, ‘You don’t know what you’re missing — the scenery, the beautiful little towns, the great people — by not hitting the highways and seeing this country.”

December 15, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 2 Comments

Tommy V. Cast Out From YES Hot Stove

Looks like HankdeStein Jr. is making a list, checking it twice, and finding out who’s been naughty or nice - and then applying the A. Bunker philosophy of “There’s nothing wrong with revenge, it’s the best way to get even!”

From Neil Best with a hat tip to Hot Foot -

Tom Verducci is out as an analyst on YES’s “Yankees Hot Stove.”

Why? His recent, scathing column on SI.com regarding Joe Torre’s departure might have had something to do with it. Actually . . . it had pretty much everything to do with it.

YES spokesman Eric Handler said Verducci’s “recent remarks pertaining to the Yankees’ ownership were extremely personal and cutting, and we decided it would not be in our interests to have him on the show going forward.

“Also, Tom is collaborating with Joe Torre on a second book. It’s unfortunate, but we figured it was an action that had to be taken. We appreciate the work he’s done for us in the past.”

What does his book deal with Torre have to do with it?

“The recent disclosure of Tom’s collaboration with Torre on yet another book highlights a conflict in his ability to write a balanced column about Torre’s departure from the Yankees,” Handler said.

Another Newsday baseball writer turned SI writer, Jon Heyman, was on the show when it debuted Thursday night.

Verducci, who appeared on the show for four seasons, said, “The people who put the show together are really first-class people, and I enjoyed working for them. The on-air product is very good.I’ll miss working with them. As for management, it’s their network and I fully respect their decision.”

November 17, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 2 Comments

FiOS TV

Anyone watch the Yankees/YES via FiOS TV? I’m thinking of switching from Comcast Cable. Thanks in advance for any feedback that you can share.

November 8, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 7 Comments

Wailing Waldman

The Postmen (A Sports Blog) has an entry with the audio of Suzyn Waldman crying on the air about Joe Torre last night.

When you listen to it, you’ll hear John Sterling jump in and take her off the mike as she starts to cry.

I’m not sure what to make of her reaction here. Part of me feels bad for her - no one likes to see people cry, or, at least, they shouldn’t like to see it. But, part of me also says “Now, watch, if Mattingly or Girardi is named manager, she’ll gush, on and on, about them when they’re hired.”

In some ways, Suzyn Waldman is just Michael Kay in a dress. When it comes to the both of them, I wonder if anyone in charge of broadcasting at YES TV and Radio knows that there are probably hundreds of candidates out there who could do a better job than them - and that the fans would probably welcome the upgrade.

October 9, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 25 Comments

My YES Wish-Letter

Dear YES Network:

How about just having Singleton, Leiter and Girardi in the booth - and have Kay replace Kim Jones - from here until the end of the season?

Allow Murcer, O’Neill, Flaherty and Justice to take turns and handle pre- and post-game in the studio with Bob and Nancy.

Thanks for taking the time to consider this request.

Sincerely,
A Yankees fan with a functioning set of ears and a brain that’s not dead.

August 2, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 3 Comments

Kevin Millar?

From Ken Rosenthal -

Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar, batting .386 with 15 RBIs in his last 22 games, could fit for the Yankees, Twins, Braves, but might not be moved until after the July 31 non-waiver deadline. The Yankees and Twins are examining multiple options, and the Braves seemingly would prefer Julio Franco as a right-handed hitter off the bench. Millar, who turns 36 on Sept. 24, likely would clear waivers — he is earning $2.75 million with a $2.75 million option for 2008 that becomes guaranteed if he makes 475 plate appearances. He currently has 283.

Yikes, I’m starting to get that “sick feeling” again…

July 17, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 6 Comments

YES/FOX O.T.D. Split

Am I the only one bothered by the fact that YES and FOX are sharing the day tomorrow for the Yankees…with YES getting the Old-Timer’s Day stuff and then FOX picking up the Angels-Yanks game?

I hope FOX does what YES would do on a day like Old-Timer’s…meaning show clips from the Old-Timer’s game, joke about it, and maybe get a few guys to come up into the booth for an inning or two.

If I understand it correct, hardly any teams have Old-Timer’s Day things these days. It would be smart for FOX to tap into something unique here and let the nation get a whiff at how cool Old-Timer’s can be for a team (and it’s fans).

And, it would be even smarter for the Yankees to schedule Old-Timer’s on a day where FOX doesn’t want the game…and ensure that YES gets to run the whole day…and then prolong the special-ness (is that a word?) of the afternoon for Yankees fans (instead of having it potentially cut off the minute that FOX takes over for the day).

July 6, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 3 Comments

Girardi No-Go On O’s

From the AP -

Joe Girardi has declined an offer from the Baltimore Orioles to become their next manager, his agent, Steve Mandel, told ESPN on Thursday.

Girardi interviewed with the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, and ESPN’s Peter Gammons reported that the team offered him their vacant managerial job.

A former coach for Yankees manager Joe Torre, Girardi returned to New York this season as a broadcaster for the YES Network.

Whew!

At the worst, we still get to listen to Joe on YES. At the best, he’s still in the running to be the next Yankees manager. It’s all good.

June 21, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 4 Comments

An Unexpected Sad Realization

The YES Network is showing the game of July 1, 2004 on Yankees Classics tonight. It’s the game against the Red Sox where Jeter dove into the stands to catch a pop-fly.

I was at that game with my buddy Gary. It was a thrill. In any event, I’ve never seen the whole YES broadcast of the contest. Like tonight, I usually only catch a few minutes of the game replay when it’s on the telly.

Most times I’ve stumbled across the game on the tube, it’s not a big deal to me - since I was there when it all happened. This evening, when I caught a glimpse of the replay, my first reaction was “Hey, that’s right - Brad Halsey started that game. Gee, that still must be, and may always be, a highlight of his career.” Then, it hit me.

I heard Bobby Murcer’s voice on the television. All of a sudden, I felt very sad. Now, I was never a huge fan of Murcer’s style and skill in the booth. Nonetheless, it bothered me tonight, when I heard his voice, to think that he may never get a chance to do another Yankees game.

I know that Murcer hopes to return to the YES Network this season. And, I’m rooting for his dream to come true. If he does, it’s a lock that there’s going to be very few dry eyes on the YES crew that day - and I’ll probably be a little misty myself.

February 16, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 5 Comments

Careful What You Wish For…

I drive an 8-year old Chevy with almost 120,000 miles on it. Since I drive 450 miles a week to-and-from work alone, it makes no sense for me to have a newer/nicer car. (With the work-commute miles that I log, a brand-new car would be down to zero-value before it was 5-years old.)

Since my ride is dated, so is the entertainment system in the car. It’s a radio/cassette player. (Yes, not even a CD-player.)

Well, I should say that the entertainment system was dated - since my father-in-law (this weekend) just treated me to having XM Satellite Radio installed in the ol’ Chevy.

This morning, via XM, I got my first taste of “Baseball This Morning” on the radio. For a baseball junkie like me, this is a great fix - especially on a cold day like today.

It also got me wondering if a 24/7 Yankees radio station would ever fly? You could have talk segments, interviews, game broadcasts and re-broadcasts, specials, etc. (Maybe they could even have a meet the Yankees blogger hour each week?) You would think that YES would want to look into something like this…but, then, I got this thought:

Imagine Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling on the radio for more hours than they’re on now.

Never mind, I have changed my mind. I’ll stick to the current programming on XM for now.

February 5, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 15 Comments

YES Spring Training Schedule

The Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network will show 16 games on TV this spring. Am I missing something, the Yanks and Mets won’t play against each other this spring? Bummer.

February 5, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 4 Comments

Levine: YES Is Cotton Candy, Not Docosahexaenoic Acid

From three true outcomes who saw Randy Levine at George Washington University -

Randy Levine sounded like, well, what you expected him to sound like. He praised the Boss (though I believe that’s because Steinbrenner has spies everywhere). When asked about diversity, he responded, “If a guy’s good, and we want him, we’ll get him.” (Which prompted Perlozzo to say, “I don’t think I like this guy anymore.”) He talked about how the new Yankees stadium will look like how 1920s Yankees Stadium looked. I thought he had a good response when someone asked about the ethics of a team being strongly associated with a network (e.g. YES, MASN). He responded that not everyone can be the New York Times or the Washington Post, that the goal of the YES network was to entertain Yankees fans, rather than inform them.

Hey, Randy, you can inform and entertain at the same time, ya’ know?

January 24, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 8 Comments

Our RSN Can Beat Up Their RSN

From the Reed Business Interactive Network -

For the fourth straight year, Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network ranked as the most-watched regional sports network in the country.

Citing Nielsen Media Research data, YES officials said the RSN averaged 31,000 households in total-day delivery in 2006 (Dec. 26, 2005-Dec. 31, 2006) versus 25,000 for New England Sports Network. YES, for the first time, matched NESN in primetime, with a daily average of 80,000 households.

Moreover, with its principal fare — telecasts of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees — YES averaged 316,000 viewers versus 252,000 for NESN’s coverage of MLB’s Boston Red Sox.

In the New York DMA, YES’ total-day average household delivery of 31,000 topped the 28,000 combined for market rivals Madison Square Garden Network, FSN New York and SportsNet New York, according to YES officials. In primetime, YES trailed the other three networks’ combined average total of 84,000 by 4,000 households.

I tell ya, that “Yogi and a Movie” is a winner! (And, yes, I’m kidding.)

January 16, 2007 | Filed Under YES Network | 1 Comment

Kitty Caught In The Rain

Thanks to the rain, Jim Kaat lost his chance to call one final game.

I think the YES Network should invite Kaat back to do one game in 2007. What’s the harm in doing that and giving the guy one last chance to go out in style?

September 15, 2006 | Filed Under YES Network | 8 Comments

Jim Kaat To Retire This Friday

From the Daily News -

When the cameras are shut down and there is nothing left but silence Friday night, Jim Kaat will walk out of the Yankees’ TV booth in the Bronx for the final time.

Kaat, who has spent 13 seasons as a Yankees analyst (WPIX, MSG, YES), will retire.

The man has some good seasons left at the microphone. So, why is he taking his final bow after Friday’s Red Sox-Yankees tilt?

“I’m just ready. It’s my 50th year in professional baseball and yeah, I’m going to turn 68. I feel like I’ve had a nice run,” Kaat said.

Is there any truth to the rumor that, when 40-year old Al Leiter showed up in the YES booth this spring, Kitty Kaat said “They keep running them in here younger and younger every year!”

I’ll miss Kaat. “Pitcher’s pitch” and “It will rust out before it will wear out” and “Two to get loose and one to produce” were always fun to hear - no matter how many times he said them. Kaat offered a lot of insight and had some fun stories - and he told it like it was, for the most part.

YES has some good new blood like Leiter and John Flaherty. And, they still have Kenny Singleton.

Those three can balance out Michael Kay, Bobby Murcer and Paul O’Neill.

What I will probably miss the most is Kaat’s ability to go back to discuss players and events from the 1950’s and 1960’s, from an eye-witness account. Murcer and Singleton are more 60’s and 70’s guys - and Murcer’s recall is not as good for things outside Yankees history.

I wonder if David Cone will try and get Kaat’s position at YES? If Stein is still not upset with Cone for going to Boston and then the Mets, he might get a shot at it.

September 10, 2006 | Filed Under YES Network | 17 Comments

Michael Kay’s Rant On The Radio

From Bob Raissman today -

Kay’s meltdown (that’s being kind) was triggered by the contention that baseball voices can jinx teams they work for. During the discussion, Kay was accused of putting the whammy on Chien-Ming Wang because he once informed viewers Wang was pitching a perfect game.

The notion any announcer could put the kibosh on a no-hitter or perfect game, by alerting viewers to the fact one is in progress, is absurd. Still, it is one of those age-old superstitions some fans still believe in.

Kay was right in taking issue with it. Unfortunately, he went about it the wrong way. And wrong is not nearly a strong enough word to describe the way he went about it.

In essence, a caller - Jimmy - pushed the right button to set Kay off. He sent Kay to Wig City by simply saying it is against “baseball etiquette” for an announcer or analyst to even mention that a pitcher is working on a no-hitter or perfect game.

Kay became extremely defensive and defiant. He flipped, going into a full scream/rant mode.

Kay: “… Why shouldn’t I say it (that a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter or perfect game)? Tell me Jimmy. Why?”

Jimmy: “Because it’s not baseball etiquette.”

Kay: “… Don’t tell me it’s baseball etiquette. It used to be etiquette to have black people as slaves. …”

You could hear Jimmy groan and the air going out of other listeners, too. Kay’s inappropriate comparison was over-the-top.

A few seconds later, he topped it.

Kay: “Jimmy. Tell me why? Tell me why I can’t say it.”

As if he was waving a red cape in a bull’s face, Jimmy, again, parroted his “baseball etiquette” line.

Kay: “That’s a stupid, stupid thing to say. … Baseball etiquette? There’s a lot of rules that don’t make sense. That’s why there was Nazi Germany. Why did they march people into ovens? Well, that’s what they told them to do …”

While this incident was not a “Jimmy The Greek” moment for Kay, it’s not a good thing for him that it happened.

What should the YES Network do about it?

I don’t think that Kay should be fired. People in public positions have said worse things and not been fired.

But, Kay should be suspended for at least two weeks. He needs a reminder that you pay a price when you lose your cool in a public forum. Someone at his level, with his experience, should know better than to make references like those. And, since he doesn’t know this - evidently - he needs that reminder.

August 8, 2006 | Filed Under YES Network | 19 Comments

YES, A-Rod, Justice

From the Daily News:

David Justice’s pointed critique of Alex Rodriguez Tuesday night on the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network was not a solo act.

A variety of moles, some embedded inside YES, said Justice, the network’s pre- and postgame studio analyst, was strongly encouraged - perhaps even ordered - to criticize A-Rod, by YES brass, including the network’s production boss, John Filippelli.

“It (Justice’s A-Rod rip) was verbatim what they wanted him to say,” one mole said.

The question is, did the order to verbally hit A-Rod come directly from the Yankees’ high command?

Justice was not the only YES voice approached to put the wood to Rodriguez, who was mired in another slump until breaking out Wednesday with a game-winning home run. The three voices who worked Tuesday night’s game on YES - Michael Kay, Jim Kaat, and Al Leiter - were also “encouraged” to come down on A-Rod. Saying Rodriguez was not the only problem the Yankees have, they flat out refused to single him out and trash him.

When asked about the situation, Eric Handler, a YES spokesman, would only say: “As always, there is a healthy give and take among production personnel regarding the direction of the show.”

Just a little drama for you mammas……..

June 30, 2006 | Filed Under YES Network | 7 Comments

Riding The Melky-Go-Round

Memo to the YES Network: When work begins on the Melky Cabrera Yankeeography, which I imagine will happen around the year 2020, please be sure include the footage from that mad dash around the bases during last night’s game.

That play set the tone for the game last night, to me. I think it really got the Yankees rolling. It certainly broke any tension that might have been in the Yankees dugout. And, the fact that it came via some embarrassing moments for Jason Varitek, well, so much the better.

June 6, 2006 | Filed Under YES Network | 12 Comments