Bleacher Report - Articles by Marisa Scolamiero

Zack Greinke Should Win The A.L. Cy Young Award

Marisa Scolamiero — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:01:30 -0400

At the start of the 2009 season, it is almost certain that most people in baseball would never have put Zack Greinke's name on the list for A.L. Cy Young Award candidates. However, for the majority of the season, Greinke has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.

What makes Greinke an even more unlikely initial candidate, is that two years ago he couldn't get through his bullpen sessions due to an anxiety disorder that was prohibiting him from pitching.

Greinke had to take some time away from baseball in order to get his health under control, and then took the long road back to the majors.

Last year, Greinke went 13-10 with a 3.47 ERA. Those are not exactly overly impressive numbers, but what's important to remember is that Greinke pitches for the Royals, a team that is not exactly known for scoring runs for their pitchers.

Not only that, but Greinke has never been very serious about pitching. He happens to be very good at it, but he finds it boring only playing once every five days. He has repeatedly said that he thinks it would be a lot more fun to be a position player so that he could play every day. Not to mention, he happens to love hitting.

Despite all of that, Zack Greinke started off 2009 with a bang that most pitchers would commit a crime for. He posted an 8-0 record with an ERA slightly over 1.00. He is currently 13-8 with a 2.19 ERA and has pitched six complete games.

CC Sabathia leads the A.L. with seventeen wins, but the Yankees are more likely to give him run support than the Royals are for Greinke. Sabathia has 178 strikeouts to Greinke's 216, and has only pitched two complete games, while Greinke has has six.

Josh Beckett has fifteen wins, and Roy Halladay has 14, but both pitchers have ERAs over 3.00. Greinke has managed to keep his slightly above 2.00 without possessing the same kind of electric stuff that Sabathia, Beckett, and Halladay have.

Greinke should win the A.L. Cy Young Award this year because he has been consistent this season, and has done so on a team that is not at the top of their division. He has managed to keep his opponents off balance, which is evident in his strikeout total.

The really impressive thing, is that Greinke has managed to post these numbers all while keeping his anxiety disorder in check.

Hopefully, the baseball writers who vote on these distinguished awards will take all of that into consideration before they make their decision.

How a Trip To a Pool Hall In February Changed the Yankees' Season

Marisa Scolamiero — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:01:58 -0400

2008 marked Joe Girardi's first year at the helm of the Yankees' ship. After his first year in spring training, Girardi was viewed as somewhat of a drill sergeant, making sure that all of his players were in top shape before leaving camp.

After missing playoffs for the first time since 1995, the Yankees decided to try and return to some of the ways that helped them win four championships over fiver years in the late 90's. They spent the off season signing some high-end starting pitching as well as some other key players to improve their team.

The new and improved team had a new goal coming out of spring training. Girardi sought to inspire more than just physical fitness, but team unity. He made his team take a break from their workouts, and put together a field trip to a pool hall in Tampa. It was an opportunity for the new guys to get familiar with their teammates and get away from baseball before the long season started.

It's highly unlikely that Girardi could have anticipated just how well his players would get along, but there is no question that the field trip to the pool hall helped cement a good sense of unity.

While the Yankees have had their share of ups and downs this season, they have rarely looked like a team that didn't think they could overcome whatever odds were thrown at them. No matter what the deficit, they seem like they'll come back and win the game, and usually they do.

Of course success is built on a lot of different variables. Everything has to be clicking at the right time in order for a team to be successful, but the difference between this Yankee team and teams of the recent past, is that while a player or two might go through a bit of a slump, there are a number of players that are on the right track. One player isn't trying to carry the whole team, and therefore no one is getting burned out.

A lot of the team's success also has to do with the fact that the players on the Yankees genuinely like each other. That doesn't mean that everyone gets along with everyone all the time. I'm sure some guys like some players more than others, but there is still that sense of unity that hasn't existed since the late 90's.

There will be those who will argue that team chemistry is not an important factor for a team to be successful, and that is most likely true. The championship Oakland A's teams of the 70's were known for their fighting with each other, and the '77-'78 Yankees weren't called the 'Bronx Zoo' for nothing. Those teams were successful, and they certainly weren't all going out and eating dinner together, but it seems that when that sense of togetherness exists on a team, there is a greater chance for big things to happen.

The Yankees have posted 13 walk-off wins this season, and with each win, they make it look like it's their first. Guys jumping out of the dugout and rushing to home plate to greet the player responsible for the winning run, the tossing of the batting helmet in the air, and of course the pie in the face courtesy of A.J. Burnett have all become customary in the Bronx.

There is also "Kangaroo Court" that has been in session twice so far this season, where Mariano Rivera resides as the judge and various players are fined for "crimes". A "crime" can consist of showing up late for practice, not wearing a shirt during an interview, or giving up a hit in a game.

Some people may view something like "Kangaroo Court" or the Yankees' players bonding as unnecessary details in order for them to win in October. There is no doubt that to make it in the playoffs, the Yankees have to pitch will and hit when it counts, but there is also something really nice about seeing a team that genuinely likes each other.

Perhaps Girardi sensed that was the final piece of the puzzle. For years, the Yankees have had talented players on their teams, but they haven't been able to take that talent and translate it into a championship.

If the Yankees are able to go all the way, there are going to be a lot of reasons why they were able to do so. However, one of the reasons that will undoubtedly be overlooked, is the day that Joe Girardi brought his team together for an afternoon at a pool hall. That day helped spark something the Yankees have been missing for a long time; team unity and appreciation for every guy on the roster to get the job done.

How Will The Yankees Regain Their Championship Form This October?

Marisa Scolamiero — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:50:13 -0400

Throughout the 90's, the Yankees ruled October baseball amassing four championships in five years. However, they haven't been to the World Series since 2003, and they haven't made it past the ALDS since 2004.

Despite their efforts to bolster their team to return to postseason glory, the Yankees have fallen short in 2005, 2006, and 2007. 2008 was the first time that the Yankees weren't in the playoffs since '94.

Falling short is what made Brian Cashman step up his efforts in the offseason this year. Cashman's goal was to sign some legitimate pitching, have a solid bench, and have someone who could actually play first base.

He landed free agent aces CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, he traded for 1B/OF Nick Swisher, and he signed free agent Mark Teixeira, the switch hitting first baseman who can actually throw and catch the ball.

As most seasons go, injuries happened, people under performed, and the plan that Cashman and the Yankees had envisioned for returning to October baseball seemed like it might not happen.

The bullpen couldn't hold a lead that the starters had struggled to keep, nor could they get the ball to Mariano Rivera. The big aces, Sabathia and Burnett, weren't living up to their hype, Wang was a mess mentally and physically, and Joba Chamberlain could barely get through four innings every time out.

The lineup was struggling without Alex Rodriguez for the first month or so, and the depth that the Yankees thought they would have was relatively nonexistent.

And then, things took a turn for the better. The rotation got its act together, and Sabathia and Burnett started pitching up to expectations. The bullpen got turned over and Alfredo Aceves, Phil Coke, and Phil Hughes started shutting down opposing hitters, and turning the ball over to Rivera with great ease.

Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup which ignited Mark Teixeira and the rest of the Yankee hitters. The Yankees started scoring runs, and put the fear back in opposing pitchers.

More than any of that, the Yankees started to show something that fans haven't seen since the championship years... team chemistry and unity. From Kangaroo Court to the pie in the face after walk off wins, the Yankees look like a team that genuinely enjoys playing baseball together. That may seem like an unimportant aspect, but it has made a huge difference for the Yankees this season.

If the Yankees want to return to October glory they need to keep with all the things that have earned them the best record in baseball.

The pitching staff needs to keep the Yankees in the game. Good pitching is usually the key to teams prevailing in the playoffs, and the Yankees have been without it for some time. Now that they finally have some, they really have a chance to go the distance.

The offense needs to not drop off the face of the earth. They have to manufacture runs when possible and realize that the long ball isn't going to win them a championship.

The years that the Yankees won their championships, they did so not only with home runs, but with bunts, hit and runs, base stealing, and clutch hitting. Those things really matter come October, and the Yankees need to keep them in mind if they want to win.

The team finally has a decent bench to call on. Brett Gardner should be returning from his thumb injury within a week or so, and with him in the lineup, he can steal bases and provide a spark the Yankees may need late in a game.

Not to mention, they have Eric Hinske and Jerry Hairston Jr, whom Cashman traded for in July. They can play a multitude of positions and provide a little pop with their bats. Girardi is going to need to utilize these players correctly, but the fact that he has them at his disposal makes the Yankees that much more of a threat.

The bullpen needs to keep doing what they've been doing since June. Aceves, Coke, Robertson, and Hughes have been pretty much lights out. Bruney has flashes of brilliance and then deflates. If he's not cutting it come October, Girardi is going to have to stick to the guys that are able to get the ball to Mariano, and if Bruney can't be effective he's going to have to deal with sitting on the bench.

For the first time in years, the Yankees have a well put together team that can fend off opponents in a variety of ways. They have a real chance to return to post season glory, and everyone around baseball knows it.

There is no doubt that the Yankees and their fans were starting to wonder if we'd ever see the semblance of a championship team, and it looks like we might finally have one.

Unnecessary Roughness Leads to Unnecessary Suspensions

Marisa Scolamiero — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:03:43 -0400

Fighting is something that tends to occur in professional sports for a variety of reasons. In the heat of competition, athletes emotions tend to run high, and sometimes they say something offensive or literally push an opponent too far.

This can result in bench clearing brawls, ejections, and suspensions. Players can end up injured, suspended, and/or fined; something no team wants to have to deal with.

It really makes you stop and think if getting in someone's face is really worth it?

On Tuesday night, the Boston Red Sox were facing the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. New Jersey native, Rick Porcello was pitching for Detroit. The Tigers had already staked him to a 3-0 lead by the second inning, so the rookie's back wasn't up against the wall.

Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera had been drilled in the hand in the first inning, and then Porcello threw up and in to Jacoby Ellsbury.

In the next inning, Porcello hit Youkilis in the back with a pitch, which prompted Youkilis to charge the mound. He didn't just charge at the pitcher, yelling and screaming, he took off his batting helmet and threw it right in Porcello's direction.

Porcello kept trying to back away from Youkilis, but it was obvious that Youkilis was intent on getting him. He chased Porcello between first and second and wrapped him up, to which Porcello responded by slamming him to the ground.

The benches and bullpens cleared, both Porcello and Youkilis were ejected as were managers Terry Francona and Jim Leyland.

The following day, Major League Baseball issued disciplinary action and suspended both Youkilis and Porcello for five games. In addition, Porcello was fined for intentionally throwing at Youkilis.

While there is no way to get inside Rick Porcello's head and figure out if he actually meant to throw at Youkalis, a few things should be considered.

Porcello is a rookie pitcher, therefore his control is not what a veteran pitcher's is. When a pitcher like Pedro Martinez or Roger Clemens would hit a guy in the back, there was no doubt that the ball didn't simply slip out of their hands. Porcello isn't anywhere near being an established pitcher, and it is highly unlikely that he was purposely trying to bean one of the Red Sox's best hitters.

Another factor that has to be considered is that the Tigers were ahead 3-0 when Porcello drilled Youkilis. I find it hard to believe that with a three-run lead, a rookie pitcher is going to intentionally hit a batter and just put him on base. Had the Tigers been losing, and Porcello hit him, it could be argued that by hitting him he was taking the bat out of his hands, due to the fact that Youkilis is on of Boston's best hitters.

Just for a moment, let's say that Porcello felt that he had to protect his teammate Miguel Cabrera who had been hit earlier in the game. Perhaps he was just trying to throw up and in to Youkalis to brush him back off the plate, like many players would expect him to do.

Obviously, he more than brushed him off the plate, but that doesn't mean he intentionally threw at him, and the fact that Major League Baseball fined him for that is most definitely excessive.

The most important fact in this whole situation is that the actions of both Porcello and Youkilis have cost them a five game suspension. Youkilis is a position player so he has to miss five games, but considering Porcello only pitches once every five days, the suspension isn't as severe for him. Still, their teams have to play without them because they couldn't keep their cool.

I understand protecting yourself and your teammates, but too often fights break out and players get suspended for no real reason. I have never been hit by a 95 m.p.h. fastball, but I would imagine that it is quite painful. Still, I can't see what purpose it serves to charge the mound?

Derek Jeter is known for the way he leans out over the plate, which is why he gets hit by pitches so often. While there are many times he gets hit unintentionally, there are likely other times when he gets hit on purpose.

However, at no time whether Jeter believes he was thrown at or not, does he ever charge the mound and start a fight. That is because Jeter realizes that it is more important for him to take first base instead of starting a fight that could lead to him getting hurt worse or suspended.

It is a given that in high intensity situations emotions are going to run high, but this most recent brawl between Rick Porcello and Kevin Youkilis serves as a reminder that fist fighting really doesn't solve anything.

Had Youkilis simply taken first base, the Red Sox wouldn't be without one of their best players, and the Tigers wouldn't be without one of their pitchers. It just goes to show, that it takes a lot more restraint to walk down to first base than it does to start a brawl.

Innings Limit Will Land Joba Chamberlain Back In The Bullpen

Marisa Scolamiero — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:41:57 -0400

Organizations are all about protecting their young arms. They heavily monitor pitch counts and usually set an innings limit so that there is less chance of them over working their prized arms.

Joba Chamberlain is considered to be a future No. 1 starter for the Yankees, which is why the team has been so careful with him. He went from being a starter in the minors to a reliever, to limit the number of innings he was throwing.

The following season, Chamberlain was being stretched out in the bullpen to be converted back to a starter. By going about it in that manner, Chamberlain's innings total wasn't as high as if he had started the season in the rotation.

Despite their best efforts not to overwork Joba, he ended up on the DL last August with a tired shoulder. Maybe he really wasn't cut out to throw 200 plus innings in a season?

Chamberlain started the 2009 season in the starting rotation, and for the majority of his starts, he hasn't lasted past the fifth inning. As a result, his innings total is not as high as it would have been if he had been able to go deeper into his starts.

Still, the Yankees have Chamberlain on a tight leash, and have his total number of innings for 2009 around 160. That total is what's going to end up taking him out of the rotation, and land him back in the bullpen.

With Chien-Ming Wang likely lost for the rest of the season, the Yankees need to fill his spot. As of this moment, Sergio Mitre has been filling in for Wang, but if Chamberlain is taken out of the rotation, the Yankees are going to have to try to find someone to fill his spot as well.

There's nothing wrong with organizations trying to protect their young pitchers from injury, but does the constant switch from starter to reliever and vice versa help or hurt them?

Some players aren't able to make the transition from starter to reliever or the other way around. A lot of the time, these young pitchers aren't taken out of a role because the organization feels that they would be better suited doing something else, but because of keeping the innings total down.

Chamberlain was great as a reliever, and one of the best set-up men Mariano Rivera has had in years, but he has also had success as a starter. While it's clear that he can succeed in both roles, all this back and forth seems unnecessary.

Being cautious is one thing, but perhaps being too careful is also a detriment to the team. If the Yankees put Joba in the bullpen for the sake of his innings total, they are going to be down another starter, which would put them in a worse position.

New York Yankees Tradition: Old-Timers' Day Still a Hit

Marisa Scolamiero — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:51:44 -0400

When it comes to traditions in baseball, no other organization is as well-known for their way of keeping with traditions like the Yankees.

Some of the greatest players in the game have worn a Yankee uniform at one time or another, and it is because of the reputation the Yankees have for bringing the best to the Bronx that past and present players have said that donning the Yankee pinstripes is like nothing else.

One of the greatest traditions the Yankees have is Old-Timers' Day. Yankee greats of the past gather where they are greeted with loud applause from the fans who remember what they did in their day or who have heard all the stories. The former players are split into two teams, and they play a short game.

No team could hold an Old-Timers' Day and have the likes of Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, Yogi Berra and countless others on the same field.

John Sterling and Michael Kay shared the MCing duties, and it's pretty remarkable when they read the list of accomplishments of the Old Timers. At today's celebration, there were four Hall of Famers on hand (Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Goose Gossage, and Reggie Jackson). Not to mention two pitchers who pitched perfect games and one who pitched a no-hitter during their time in pinstripes (Don Larsen, David Cone, and Doc Gooden).

Beyond their personal accomplishments, once the cameras panned to the dugout, it was clear to see why they all love coming back for this particular tradition. These guys really enjoy being around each other. They love talking about their glory days and swapping stories about their experiences while playing for the Yankees.

Just because these guys have officially hung up their cleats doesn't mean that they've stashed their competitiveness away. They are out to have a good time, but they also want to prove they still have it, which is why Ron Guidry threw Lee Mazzilli a slider to strike him out instead of giving him something to hit.

At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter who wins the game since they are all Yankees, and will forever be a part of the organization's great history. Each year brings new faces to the celebration and this year, for the first time ever, Old-Timers' Day wasn't played at 161st Street and River Ave, but at the new stadium across the street.

The faces may change, the location may change, but what will never change is the way the Yankees honor those who have meant the most to their organization and to their fans. Sometimes, tradition is severely overlooked, especially in these current times. However, Old-Timers' Day gives fans as well as players a chance to remember those who were a part of something special.

You really have to appreciate the past in order to appreciate the present as well as what's to come. Without traditions such as this, things and people tend to be forgotten. Seeing all of those players out on the field today is a strong reminder as to why those things and those people should never be forgotten.

The Fate of Phil Hughes: Will the Yankees Make the Same Mistake Twice?

Marisa Scolamiero — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:12:14 -0400

Three years ago, the Yankees were all abuzz about one of their farm hands named Phil Hughes. Hughes was drafted out of high school, and was considered to be the future of the Yankees' starting rotation.

Hughes got his call up to the big leagues, and had flashes of brilliance, but ended up going through some growing pains and battled some injuries the past two seasons.

At the start of this season, Hughes began his season in Scranton as the Yankees had a fully stocked rotation with newbies CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett as well as Andy Pettitte and Chien Ming Wang, with Joba Chamberlain filling in the fifth spot.

However, Wang was on the DL after just three starts, and the bullpen was a living nightmare. Hughes was called up to fill Wang's spot and went 3-2 in seven starts with a 6.59 ERA.

While those numbers are less than stellar, at the start of the season it seemed that every Yankee pitcher had an inflated ERA.

Wang returned in June, and Hughes was moved to the bullpen. The Yankees figured they could keep Hughes' inning total down if he came out of the pen rather than go down to Triple A.

It seemed like once again the Yankees were taking a pitcher that they planned to be the future of their starting rotation and putting him in the bullpen (i.e. Joba Chamberlain).

Chamberlain was masterful as Mariano's set-up man, dazzling radar guns with fastballs that reached sometimes 99 mph and keeping hitters off balance with a nasty 87 mph change up.

The Yankees were determined to make Joba into a starter and used the 2008 season to stretch him out enough so that he would be able to go back to starting.

Joba's had mixed success as a starting pitcher. There are some nights that he looks amazing, like the night he struck out 12 Red Sox hitters, but more often than not he can't make it out of the fifth inning.

Hughes has made the most out of his time in the bullpen lowering his ERA from 6.59 to 3.76. Against the Tigers on July 17, Hughes' fastball topped out at 96 m.p.h., and in two innings of work, he didn't surrender a run. He has easily been one of the Yankees' most reliable relievers.

So now, the question arises yet again... does Hughes stay in the bullpen where he's had so much success or does he get put back into the fold to be a starter?

Brian Cashman has already said that the organization sees Hughes as a starting pitcher, and the only reason he's in the bullpen is because of his innings limit and to fill in due to the various injuries.

Last season, the Yankees felt as if they had stretched out Joba Chamberlain enough before re-inserting him into the starting rotation, but lost him to the DL in August with shoulder soreness.

Some people thought that after over a year of coming out of the bullpen, trying to push Chamberlain to throw 80 or even 90 plus pitches was too much for his arm.

The argument is that Chamberlain has the make-up of a starting pitcher with at least four different pitches in his arsenal, and keeping him in the bullpen would almost be a waste.

Then again, there is the argument that the Yankee bullpen would be a lot stronger with Chamberlain setting up for Rivera, based on the numbers he put up as a set up man. The argument could be the same for Hughes.

He has the make-up of a starter, but at times has showed that like Chamberlain, he has difficulty being economic with his pitch count, resulting in him not lasting past the fifth inning.

A starter is supposed to be durable enough that they can pitch six or seven innings per start, not barely make it to the fifth inning.

The Yankees are going to need to do some serious thinking where Phil Hughes is concerned. Keeping him in the bullpen might be what's really best for the team, instead of trying to push him into the rotation because that's where they initially said he belonged.

It just might be better for the Yankees to say they were wrong in this particular case, and not try and make Hughes into a starter at this point. He's helping the team win games and having great success as a reliever, so why mess with a good thing?

Mariano Rivera started out in the organization as a starter and got moved to the bullpen for one reason or another.

It's a safe bet that no one in the Yankee organization regrets leaving Mo in the bullpen, and Hughes has a shot at being really successful in his current role if the Yankees would leave well enough alone.

MLB All-Star Break: The Magic of The Home Run Derby

Marisa Scolamiero — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:44:36 -0400

Each year, when the All-Star break comes around, a lot of fans take the time to catch up on the TV that they miss during the baseball season. There are also a lot of fans who enjoy the majority of the All-Star festivities from the Home Run Derby, to the Celebrity Softball game, to the All-Star game itself.

Over the past several years, the Home Run Derby has probably ranked last on my list when it comes to the All-Star break. Sure, you get to watch guys hit monster home runs, but a lot of the time you see guys try too hard, and their time is up before they've even had a chance to dazzle the crowd with their home run prowess.

I always enjoyed watching the players interacting with each other on the field while there was someone hitting, or seeing the players' kids in miniature replicas of their fathers' jerseys on the sidelines more than watching them hit home runs.

However, last year I got completely sucked into the Derby. Maybe it was because it was taking place at Yankee Stadium, or because there was so much hype surrounding the Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton.

Josh Hamilton's story had been spread around baseball like wildfire in 2008. He was a great prospect when he was drafted, and was thought to have a lot of promise as he worked his way up.

Hamilton ended up going down the road of drugs and alcohol, and was out of baseball quicker than he made it up to the big leagues. Yet, somehow he was able to pull himself out of that black hole, and find his way back to baseball.

Hamilton had an incredible start to 2008, lighting up pitchers all around the league. He earned a starting spot on the AL roster for the All-Star game, and was more than happy to compete in the Home Run Derby.

He was one of the last guys to hit in the Derby, but it quickly became a case of saving the best for last. For almost 45 minutes, Hamilton hit balls into the deepest parts of Yankee Stadium racking up a record breaking 28 home runs in the first round.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the TV; it's always impressive to see a player hit the ball over 500 feet, but what Hamilton was doing was much more than just hitting balls out of the park. It was like magic every time he swung his bat, and all of the All-Stars sitting on the field as spectators watched in complete awe as Hamilton advanced to the final round of the Derby.

One of the major flaws in the Derby though is that once a player qualifies for the second round, their total from the first and second round get combined, and their total propels them into the third round. However, once they reach the final round, the slate is wiped clean and both players start at zero.

Hamilton ended up going against the Twins' slugger Justin Morneau, and while his total was higher in both rounds, Morneau ended up winning the Derby because he hit more in the third round.

It would seem that the person with the most home runs overall should win the Derby, but either way, that night was all about Hamilton and how he managed to fight his way to the top.

For once, watching the Home Run Derby was about so much more than just taking up TV time during the All-Star break. There will probably never be another Home Run Derby like it, but like tonight, I'll keep watching, because you can never be sure just when that bit of magic will come along and dazzle you in ways that you never thought possible.

The Second Greatest Tennis Match Ever: Roger Federer Makes History

Marisa Scolamiero — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:42:50 -0400

Yesterday, Roger Federer became the first tennis player to win 15 Grand Slam titles after he defeated Andy Roddick in the men's Wimbledon final.

The match, which lasted four hours and 16 minutes, was a sheer battle of wills, as Federer beat Roddick 16-14 in the final set. He also regained his No. 1 ranking in the world, which he lost to Rafael Nadal after last year's defeat on that same court.

I have never been much for tennis. I never really understood the way the games were scored with the whole LOVE-15 or deuce. LOVE stood for the other player having no points; LOVE is the last word I think could ever describe having no points.

A few years ago, while I was on vacation in Florida, Wimbledon was going on, and I happened to catch some of it. I was really impressed with how fast the players served, and I got my first look at the Williams' sisters, Andy Roddick, and Roger Federer. I wasn't hooked, but my interest was definitely peaked.

Last year, I watched that epic Wimbledon men's final of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The game started at 9 AM, and went into the darkness after being delayed a few times by rain. It was a match up of the best of the best, and it didn't disappoint at all.

For someone who didn't even like tennis, I was glued to the TV or constantly running to check on the score. That's usually only something I do with baseball or football, but there I was, completely engrossed in this amazing tennis match.

When all was said and done, the championship trophy was in the hands of Rafael Nadal, and Federer lost his number one ranking in the world. As always, Federer handled defeat with grace and gave Nadal all the credit for playing such a great match.

Still, it was obvious that the 14-time Grand Slam champion, was not satisfied with second place.

This year, he advanced to the finals again, but this time was playing American Andy Roddick, whom he had beaten 14 times in their previous match-ups. Everyone expected Roddick to go down fairly easily against Federer, but Andy Roddick had other ideas.

Roddick has always been an extremely talented tennis player. He holds the world record for the fastest serves, but he has never been able to beat Federer when it really counted. He lost to him in the men's final back in 2005, and now had to face his nemesis once more.

The Andy Roddick that showed up for Wimbledon 2009, was different than the guy that had showed up in the past. Roddick is known for his temper tantrums on the court and always being the guy with a protest, but this year that wasn't the case.

He hired a new coach, dropped around 15 pounds, and worked harder than ever before to improve his game. That is why he was able to last so long against Federer; even though he looked like he was working a lot harder than Federer, he wasn't taking the match lying down.

Despite his impressive effort, Roddick lost at the hands of Federer. You could see the pain, disappointment, and frustration on his face as he accepted the silver plate that is given to the second place winner. He fought to hold back his tears as Roger Federer kissed his championship trophy.

Federer credited Roddick on playing a great match, and then thanked Pete Sampras, the former holder of the record for the most Grand Slam championships. Sampras flew from California to be there for the final match, his first appearance at Wimbledon since his final match in 2002.

While the 2008 men's Wimbledon final will probably go down as one of the greatest matches of all time, the 2009 men's Wimbledon final is going to rank pretty close to it.

Everyone expected Federer and Nadal to put on a great show, but people got a lot more from Andy Roddick than they expected. Combine that with watching the great Roger Federer do what he does so well, it's definitely a toss up between the two.

It's amazing how sports can pull people in. While tennis is by no means by favorite sport, I now thoroughly enjoy watching Wimbledon and the US Open—especially when Roger Federer is playing.

Sometimes it just takes one thing to grab your attention and make you realize what you've been missing out. I can definitely say that I'm glad to have opened my mind to tennis, because for the second year in a row, I got to witness true athletic greatness.

70 Years Later, Lou Gehrig's Farewell Speech Still Resonates

Marisa Scolamiero — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:17:13 -0400

70 years ago, a man stood on the field at Yankee Stadium and told the world that he was the luckiest man on the face of the earth. That man was dying, but no one knew it.

He told them that he was the luckiest man on the face of the earth. He spoke about the great teammates and managers he played with, how blessed he felt for the family he had, and how good the game of baseball had been to him.

That man was Lou Gehrig, and on July 4, 1939, the man more commonly known as "The Iron Horse," had to walk away from baseball.

He'd been suffering with what is now known as ALS; a disease that causes muscles to twitch and eventually paralyze the individual. Something as simple as combing one's hair becomes impossible; forget about playing baseball.

Gehrig never once mentioned all the pain he'd been in or the fact that he couldn't even lace up his own cleats. Doing that would have been giving into the disease, and Lou Gehrig was too much of a fighter to do that.

For years, Gehrig had protected Babe Ruth in the Yankees' line up. He had taken a backseat to the Great Bambino, but never made a fuss about it. He was a team player, who went out and did his job every day.

It wasn't as if Gehrig was just an average player. It was somewhat unfortunate for him to be on the Yankees at the same time as Babe Ruth, because if Ruth wasn't there, Gehrig would've been noticed a lot more than he was.

He won two MVPs, and six World Series championships with the Yankees. However, Gehrig's most impressive stat is probably his 2,130 consecutive game streak, a record that wasn't broken until 1995 by Cal Ripken Jr.

Gehrig's "Farewell Speech" is one of the most recognizable speeches not only in sports, but in history. He had nothing prepared before he got up to the microphones, he simply spoke from his heart.

What makes his speech so compelling is that he praised everyone from Miller Huggins, to his family, to the grounds crew, because somehow they made his career.

He ended his speech by saying, "I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for." If that doesn't give you chills or bring a tear to your eye, I don't know what will. Two years later, he was gone.

70 years later, Major League Baseball is honoring Gehrig and raising awareness for the disease that now bears his name. Gehrig meant so much to baseball, but his impact goes beyond the game, it extends out all over the world.

Lou Gehrig was a great baseball player, but the words written on his monument really say it all about who he was... "A great man, a great teammate, and a great baseball player."

He's honored today more for being a great man and teammate than anything else.

The Yankees Give High School Softball Team Something to Smile About

Marisa Scolamiero — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:06:29 -0400

On Tuesday night, the damp crowd at Yankee Stadium was eagerly waiting for the start of the game after a 50 minute rain delay.

Michael Kay, Paul O'Neill, and Ken Singleton were announcing the game for the YES network, and as they were talking, the camera shots seemed to be avoiding shots of the field. Kay eluded that the Yankees had something special planned for the first pitch.

To honor Mariano Rivera for notching his 500th career save the other night against the Mets, the closer was going to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The crowd roared with delight and the inconvenience of the rain delay and being soaked by the downpour was erased.

Mo threw his pitch like he does on most nights to Jorge Posada, and after a hug from his catcher, Rivera waved and headed off the field.

As nice as that tribute to Rivera was, what happened before Rivera threw the first pitch was pretty special in its own right.

A couple of weeks ago, the Westhill High School softball team from Fairfield County, Connecticut was playing in the state tournament when they fell victim to a technicality that led to them being eliminated from the tournament.

Yankees' GM Brian Cashman, who happens to be a resident of Fairfield County, got wind of the girls' situation. He and several other Yankee officials live in the area, and decided to pull some strings for the team.

Westhill's athletic director, Mike King received a call that the Yankees wanted to invite the softball team out to the stadium to take the field with the players for the National Anthem.

King thought someone was playing a prank on him, but it turned out to be the truth. The team was going to go to the stadium on June 18, but a five-hour rain delay pushed back the team's visit to the Bronx.

Last night, after only a 50-minute rain delay, the Yankees took the field accompanied by the Westhill softball team at their respective positions for the playing of the National Anthem.

To their credit, the girls kept their composure, and stood next to the Yankee players with their hands over their hearts like consummate professionals.

Once the National Anthem was over, the girls got handshakes from the Yankees before they headed off the field. Business as usual resumed, and the Yankees got their warm-up throws in before Joba Chamberlain threw his first pitch.

There is no way that missing out on a shot to win a state championship can be erased by getting the opportunity to stand on the field at Yankee Stadium with the Yankees, but it can certainly ease the pain.

Westhill's catcher, Lynette Martinez grew up watching Jorge Posada, and she was so overwhelmed standing right next to him that she couldn't even recall what the catcher said to her.

The Yankees did a good thing by acknowledging the Westhill High School softball team, and even though they couldn't change the outcome of what occurred in their game, they were able to give the girls a night they won't forget.

Sometimes it's important to not only recognize when people win, but when they manage to come through a difficult situation with poise and maturity.

Even big league players like the Yankees recognize that in sports things aren't always fair, and because they recognize that, those girls will not have to look back on their season with such disappointment.

Mariano Rivera Gets His First Career RBI & 500th Save on the Same Night

Marisa Scolamiero — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:04:59 -0400

The Subway Series tends to produce a lot of great moments.

The games are never short and sweet, the most unusual things happen (just ask Luis Castillo), and the fans certainly get their money's worth.

Sunday night was no different as the Yankees swept the Mets in their final regular season meeting of 2009.

Chien-Ming Wang earned his first win of the season, and Derek Jeter made his first start at Citi Field after sitting out the first two games with the flu.

With the game tied at 3-2 in the top of the ninth inning, the Yankees had two men on with two outs. As Derek Jeter came to the plate, the feeling throughout the ballpark was that Francisco Rodriguez, the Mets' closer, would intentionally walk him to get to Mariano Rivera.

Last week against Atlanta, Rivera had his first career at bat and ended up flying out to center field. He was the easy out because of his lack of plate appearances.

Yet, for some unknown reason, the Mets decided to pitch to Jeter. This decision even caused the Yankee captain to flash a smirk before settling into the batter's box. After K-Rod threw two balls, the intentional walk to Jeter was issued.

Rivera came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. All the Yankees were hoping for K-Rod to be rattled enough to walk Rivera and force in a run.

After two pitches outside to Rivera, K-Rod came back with a nasty fastball down the middle. On the next pitch, Rivera fouled off another fastball. When the next pitch was called a ball, every Yankee fan held their breath that Mo would survive one more pitch from K-Rod.

Somehow, the almost always reliable K-Rod managed to lose his control, walked Rivera to force in a run, and gave the Yankees a 4-2 lead. The Yankee bench erupted with cheers as if someone had just deposited a home run into the center field bleachers.

Just like that, Mariano Rivera had earned his first career RBI, and it only took him 13 years.

Rivera's work for the night was not complete as he had to go and do his job: close out the game.

He wasted no time in going to work, and Mark Teixeira gobbled up Alex Cora's ball and stepped on first for the final out of the game. He handed Mo the ball, and gave the closer his first congratulations for earning his 500th career save.

Mo received high fives and hugs from the rest of his teammates as they cleared off the field, probably getting the biggest hugs from Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada—the two Yankees he's been with the longest.

Rivera was quickly greeted with a headset to answer questions from the ESPN announcers about his big night. He stood there smiling, and made sure (in typical Mariano fashion) to thank God first and foremost.

He didn't talk about how he'd always imagined getting 500 saves as many players talk about when they achieve milestones. He even acknowledged what a good closer K-Rod is, and his excitement over his first career RBI was completely genuine.

Mariano Rivera didn't forget to acknowledge his teammates either. He knows that without them he wouldn't have had so many opportunities to achieve 500 saves. For him, anything that can be done to help his team win is all that matters.

After last night's game, the Yankees have earned bragging rights in New York for taking five out of six games from their cross town rivals.

Mariano Rivera earned not only his 500th career save, but his first career RBI to add on to his already Hall of Fame worthy resume.

More than that, Mo has earned the respect of his teammates and players throughout baseball because he plays the game the right way.

Derek Jeter said it best after the game when he explained that Mo has been the same since he earned his first career save as he was last night when he got his 500th.

His main goal is to help his team win, and, whether that means being patient at the plate and walking in a run or getting a four out save, that's what he's all about, and that is why he is the best at what he does.

It seems only fitting that the Subway Series would be the place that Mo's milestones were achieved. Met fans would probably like to forget it quickly, but the Yankees and their fans are going to think of it every time the team rolls into Citi Field.

Francisco Cervelli Has Earned His Spot On The Yankees' Starting Roster

Marisa Scolamiero — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:32:31 -0400

Last year at this time, Francisco Cervelli was working his way back from a severe wrist injury. The young catcher, who has been a highly touted minor league prospect for the last couple of years, turned a lot of heads in spring training in 2008.

He ended up missing most of the season while his broken wrist recovered, and with Jose Molina acting as the steady back up for Jorge Posada, there was no reason for Cervelli to think he wouldn't be with Double-A for the rest of the season.

At the start of 2009, Cervelli was in Double-A. Jorge Posada's surgically repaired shoulder seemed to be responding well, and Jose Molina was taking his turn probably three times a week, leaving no room for Cervelli.

On May 5, Posada was place on the DL with a strained hamstring, and Kevin Cash was called up to back up Molina. However, just two days later, Molina was placed on the DL with a quadriceps injury.

Cervelli got a call that he most definitely wasn't expecting, but had been waiting and hoping for. The Yankees wanted him with the big league club to help while their starting catcher and back up were healing, and Cervelli was more than ready to prove himself.

Cervelli was likable from the start.

He wasted no time getting to know the pitchers on the Yankees' staff so that at a moment's notice they would feel comfortable with each other. While Cervelli has always been known for his stellar defense, his bat had been relatively non-existent in the minors. He came to the majors hitting under .250, but was eager to have hitting instructor Kevin Long fix whatever was effecting his swing.

Cervelli made a seamless transition to the majors. Pitchers like A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia, and Joba Chamberlain couldn't say enough about Cervelli's work behind the plate and his ability to call a good game.

He was even contributing with his bat, something that the Yankees weren't expecting, but were more than happy to take. For a guy who couldn't hit over .250 in Double-A, Cervelli was hitting well over .300, and even higher with runners in scoring position.

Posada returned from the DL in the end of May, while Molina was farther away from making a return. The Yankees decided to keep Cervelli around as Posada's backup, and the backstop is still performing at a high level.

During the second game of the series in Atlanta on Wednesday night, there was talk on the broadcast that Jose Molina was nearing his return from the DL. It is unlikely that the Yankees would want to carry three catchers for the duration of the season, and since Molina is getting paid two million dollars this year, Cervelli would be the likely casualty.

That night, Cervelli hit his first big league home run. As the rookie rounded the bases, his smile and genuine excitement could be seen easily, and that is exactly the type of energy the Yankees want to stay around their team.

Jose Molina is getting closer and closer to making his return, and the Yankees are going to be faced with a tough decision. Do they send Cervelli down and lose all that he's established in his time in the majors, or do they keep him and possibly try and drop Molina?

Molina is a great defensive catcher, and he did great filling in for Jorge Posada for most of last year, but Cervelli is clearly the future catcher in the Yankees' organization.

The Yankees need to find a way to unload Molina and keep Cervelli around the big league club for the long haul. Cervelli has certainly earned his right to stay, and if the Yankees were smart, they would keep him right where he is, and start shopping Jose Molina before the July 31 trade deadline.

Joe Buck Gets his Own Show On HBO: He's No Bob Costas

Marisa Scolamiero — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:30:39 -0400

Bob Costas has been one of the most notable voices in sports broadcasting for a long time. Costas has transformed himself from being just an every day sports broadcaster into a spectacular interviewer and host of shows such as "Costas Now".

From 2004-2008, Costas hosted "Costas Now" on HBO, which he wrote and produced. It featured segments with some of the top people in sports like Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, Hank Aaron, and many others.

He asked questions that maybe brought out a side of athletes that fans couldn't see on an every day basis, good or bad. He consulted with a group of sports panelists about a variety of topics, and they always seemed like a group of friends sitting around talking about the happenings in sports, rather than people forced to sit together and converse.

Costas had a way of establishing a good rapport with his guests, whether he knew them or just met them backstage. Bob was always that relatable guy who could make even the most up tight of athletes crack a smile while still sounding eloquent.

HBO recently gave Joe Buck his own show called "Joe Buck Live". The show is filmed on the same stage where "Costas Now" was shot, with a similar format. There is a severe flaw in the design, however.

The first episode aired last night. Buck opened the show doing a type of monologue as if he were Jay Leno or Conan O'Brien. There's nothing wrong with introducing the new show, but having Buck look through a telescope into "Bob Costas' house" to see Bob wearing a Hawaiian shirt and reading a book with his dog in a matching Hawaiian shirt is just plain stupid. Any attempt at humor was pretty much a waste, and Buck looked more like a fish out of water than anything else.

Buck's interview segments were the most tolerable part of the show. Considering he covers the NFL and MLB, where he is knowledgeable about the players and what goes on around the leagues.

His first guest was Brett Favre. It was Favre's first big interview since undergoing knee surgery. The question of the hour was if Favre was going to retire for real this time or possibly play for the Minnesota Vikings. Naturally, Favre didn't give a direct answer on whether he's hanging it up or not, and quickly, his segment was over.

The next part featured Buck interviewing the Mets' David Wright. They showed them talking over lunch in a restaurant in New York City, and walking around the streets to get a little bit of a sense of what it's like for Wright on a daily basis. It was a solid interview, because Buck wasn't outside of his element.

When the show returned to the studio, Buck was seated with NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin and Chad Ochocinco. Buck kept harping on the point that Ochocinco craves the spotlight, to which he kept saying he has his own spotlight (whatever that means).

Buck is used to being on the air and not having the person he's talking to sitting next to him. If he wants to keep bringing up a particular point and beat it like a dead horse, the person is not usually there to contest him. In a short interview, the audience doesn't want to hear the same question asked—especially if it is likely to produce no answer or information from the first time it was asked.

The final segment was with actor Paul Rudd, Artie Lange (a.k.a. Howard Stern's side kick on his radio show), and comedian Jason Sudeikis. Rudd and Buck are apparently old friends so that explained the actor's appearance on the show. Lange is a comedian known for being somewhat brash, to put it mildly, which didn't sit well with Buck for most of the segment. Lange seemed to take over that portion of the show, and while he was getting laughs from the audience, Buck looked less than happy to take a back seat on his own show.

More than that, there really was no purpose for those three to be on the show. If the show is supposed to be centered on sports, I'm not exactly sure where they fit in, aside from being fans.

Three more shows of "Joe Buck Live" are supposed to air throughout the year, and hopefully, as time goes on, Buck will learn how to roll with what his guests say. If he continues to come off as annoyed as he was last night, he's going to be out of the studio and back in the broadcast booth before he can shake his head.

Some people simply can't make the transition from a sports commentator to the host of an hour-long show, where the guests are going to say unexpected things.

Bob Costas made it look easy for the four years that "Costas Now" was on the air. Even though "Joe Buck Live" is filmed on the same stage as "Costas Now", it is clear that Joe Buck is not even close to the kind of host Bob Costas is, and would be better off in the broadcast booth where at least there are commercial breaks.

An hour of Joe Buck is just painfully too long. HBO would've been better giving Michael Irvin his own show—at least that would've been entertaining.

Why the Yankees Are Thanking The Baseball Gods For Luis Castillo

Marisa Scolamiero — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:05:02 -0400

The Yankees were seconds away from losing the first game of the Subway Series and their fourth game in a row.

As Alex Rodriguez's threw down his bat in disgust after popping up a pitch from Francisco Rodriguez, the Mets' reliable closer, something unbelievable happened.

The Mets' second baseman, Luis Castillo was attempting to settle under the pop up and as he was about to squeeze his glove on the ball, the ball dropped out of his glove, allowing Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira to score.

The Yankees won 9-8 due to an error. A ball that should've been caught, that was almost caught, won them the game.

After a lousy performance by Joba Chamberlain who only lasted four innings, the Yankee bullpen came unglued. Brett Tomko gave the Mets the lead in the fifth inning by giving up four runs. Dave Robertson came in to relieve him, and held his own, followed by Phil Coke who also did a solid job.

The Yankees kept chipping away, and eventually the lead was cut to 6-5. The Yankees managed to tie the game at six, but with two outs in the eighth Mariano Rivera couldn't hold it there, and the Mets went up 8-6.

With one out, Derek Jeter singled to keep the Yankees hopes alive in the ninth inning. Johnny Damon came off the bench and struck out against K-Rod. Teixeira was able to work a walk, and with two outs Alex Rodriguez stepped up to the plate.

With all eyes on the slugger, he got jammed, and popped the ball up to Castillo. Castillo isn't a rookie; he's actually known for his skills with the glove, but for some reason he looked as if he was staggering under it and didn't have a good look at it.

Jeter and Teixeira were both off at the crack of the bat luckily, and both crossed home plate as the ball dropped out of Castillo's glove.

Rodriguez went from being the goat of the game to being the unlikely hero literally in seconds. Everyone was anticipating all of the Saturday Sports talk being about how A-Rod couldn't come through in the clutch again.

However, on Saturday morning, the negative attention was not on Alex Rodriguez, it was on Luis Castillo. While the Yankees might not have expected to walk away with a win last night, they certainly weren't complaining about it.

A win is a win no matter how pretty or ugly it is. The Yankees are thanking the Baseball Gods that Castillo dropped that ball, otherwise they would be three games out in the east, and the Red Sox don't need any more of a lead than they already have.

On behalf of Yankee fans everywhere, we thank you Luis Castillo for dropping that ball. It might be just what the Yankees need to keep things going in the right direction.

Yankees-Red Sox: Rain and Other Blunders Lead to Another New York Loss

Marisa Scolamiero — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:42:48 -0400

Four days ago, the Yankees thought they were in a much better place as a team since the last time they faced the Red Sox.

The addition of Alex Rodriguez to the line up, the improved pitching of CC Sabathia, and a healthy Jorge Posada were all aces in the Yankees back pocket.

Not to mention the Yankees held sole possession of first place in the AL East coming into Fenway Park—a sign that they were going in the right direction.

After three games, the Yankees are now two games out of first place, having suffered another sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. In eight games this season, the Yankees are an embarrassing 0-8 against their arch rivals.

How did the Yankees go from playing so well before entering Boston to playing like a bunch of guys who don't have it together?

In the first game against Beckett, the Yankees couldn't squeak past a run and were shut out 7-0. It didn't help that Burnett couldn't get out of the third inning, and the bullpen didn't minimize the damage.

The offense looked a little bit better against knuckleballer Tim Wakefield in Game Two, but Wang was a disaster. Although Hughes gave him a little bit of a pick me up, the Yankees couldn't overcome Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon, evetnually losing 6-5.

In the final game, Sabathia and Brad Penny were going inning for inning, and despite the solo home run that Sabathia gave up to Big Papi, things were moving right along. The Yankees even managed to give CC the lead at 3-1 in the top of the eighth, but he ran into some trouble in the bottom of the inning, and Alfredo Aceves couldn't stop the bleeding. The Red Sox regained the lead, and took the final game of the series 4-3.

Aside from the pitching issues, the Yankees have also suffered some base-running blunders by Nick Swisher.

For the past two games, Swisher has committed a base-running felony that has ultimately affected the Yankees being able to push across a run.

Of course, things happen. Sometimes as a player, you read things the wrong way or you underestimate your opponent. But two games in a row?

Swisher is a veteran, not some rookie that's never played in Fenway Park before. He should know the way the ball tends to bounce off of the Green Monster, and how the outfielders play the balls off the wall—considering he's an outfielder. It didn't help that Johnny Damon dropped a routine fly ball that allowed David Ortiz to reach first base.

It's costly mistakes like that that can swing the momentum in a game.

Even with A-Rod back in the line up, the offense looked pretty much anemic. They were leaving runners in scoring position, something they haven't been doing for the past month. In three games, the Yankees reverted back to the team they were at the beginning of the season.

Another factor was the rain that fell for most of Game Three. Of course both teams have to play in the conditions, but when the rain started to fall hard in the eighth inning there was no delay of play. A lot of that probably had to do with the fact that the Yankees were up 3-1 at that point, and they weren't going to delay or call the game with the home team down.

I'm sure if the situation was reversed and that occurred at Yankee Stadium, Yankee fans wouldn't have wanted the game called with their team trailing.

The rain was a factor in the game. Brett Gardner fielded a single, and had difficulty gripping the ball to make a good throw to try and gun down the runner trying to score. Visibility was also an issue, considering Nick Swisher had to step out of the box a couple of times because the rain was obscuring his view of the pitcher.

The weather is an uncontrollable force, there's no way to predict what it will do, and sometimes there is no way around it. I'm just left to wonder that had the Red Sox been ahead in the eighth inning when that hard rain started falling if the game would've been called.

Being 0-for-8 against the Red Sox is something the Yankees never wanted to see. Going home two games back in the AL East is another thing they didn't want to happen.

However, as they prepare to play a three game series against their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets, they can take comfort in the fact that they don't have to see the Red Sox until August.

Maybe by then they'll really have it together... maybe.

Chien-Ming Wang Still Can't Figure It Out as Yanks Lose to Sox Again

Marisa Scolamiero — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:24:26 -0400

Last night, the Yankees lost their seventh straight game to the Red Sox this season. This game was a lot closer than Tuesday's contest, as the Yankees lost 6-5 as opposed to 7-0.

While the Yankees and their fans are shaking their heads at another loss at the hands of Red Sox nation, the more puzzling thing is if Chien-Ming Wang will ever regain his form.

Wang started for the second time since being moved out of the bullpen and only lasted two and two-thirds innings. He surrendered four runs on six hits, walked three, and managed to lower his ERA from 14.46 to 14.34.

Not exactly encouraging numbers.

Phil Hughes came in with two outs in the third to relieve Wang, and despite one bad pitch to Kevin Youkalis for a two-run homer, he gave a good performance.

The numbers are the numbers, so the question facing Joe Girardi and the Yankees is what to do next?

Wang did keep most of his pitches down against the Red Sox, a sign that his sinker ball is doing what it's supposed to. However, his command is still way off. He doesn't look comfortable, and the look in his eyes says that he has lost his confidence as a pitcher.

Even his battery mate, Jorge Posada didn't know how to explain what's going on with Wang. All he could muster was that he's all over the place, and can't seem to get command of his pitches, and it's obviously effecting him.

How long is it going to take for Wang to return to his dominating form? If there's nothing physically wrong with him, how can the Yankees correct what's going on in his head?

The Yankees have invested a lot in Wang, and to put him out in the bullpen seems like a waste. He can't get sent down to the minors without being put on waivers, and there's no way the Yankees want to open up the opportunity of losing Wang to another team. Although I doubt there are many teams looking for a pitcher with a 14.34 ERA.

At the same time, can the Yankees keep sending a pitcher to the mound every five days that has become such a liability? Wang's been pitching in the big leagues for almost three full seasons, so he should know how to pitch and get guys out.

Sure, Dave Eiland and Girardi can sit with Wang, watch video, tell him what to correct when he throws his bullpen sessions, but they can't be out on the mound with him. They can't make his pitches for him, and they can't get him out of his own head.

The temptation is there to send Wang to the bullpen and re-insert Hughes into the starting rotation, but the Yankees are likely to ignore it for as long as possible. Wang has proven to be so reliable in the past, it's hard to give up on him.

However, at the end of the day, the Yankees want to be in first place. They want to not only get to the playoffs, but they want their 27th championship, and that desire is likely to outweigh their patience with Wang getting on track.

Wang needs to remember how to pitch again, and regain his command. The Yankees know they would be that much better if he could right himself, and they are hoping he can figure it out soon, and by soon that means his potential next start.

Mariano Rivera Lets One Get Away As The Yankees Can't Hold Off The Rays

Marisa Scolamiero — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:39:25 -0400

For the better part of thirteen years, Mariano Rivera has been coming out of the bullpen for the Yankees and doing God-like things.

Mo has come through time after time in the clutch, using his signature cut-fastball to strike fear in the heart of major league hitters every where.

Yesterday against Tampa Bay, with the game tied at five in the ninth, Girardi went to his reliable closer, and instead of holding the tie, Mo blew the lead...big time. He actually had to be taken out of the game, something that is rarely seen when it comes to Rivera.

Of course it would be crazy to think that Rivera is exempt from failure. However, his failures have been far less than his triumphs.

Yankee fans try to block out the '97 ALDS when Victor Martinez got the better of Rivera, or the 2001 World Series when with two outs Rivera gave up the game winning bloop single that cost the Yankees their 27th World Championship.

Still, time after time, Rivera has come up big providing the Yankees with wins even in the most dire situations.

However, age catches up with everyone at some point, and it would seem that it might be gaining on Mo.

The closer is 39, and while many guys are playing well into their forties these days, at some point the body has to start to break down.

Rivera underwent surgery in the off season on his shoulder, and while he hasn't suffered any complications, he has admitted that he's still building up his arm strength.

That would explain why his velocity hasn't been where it usually is at this point of the season, and it also might explain why he hasn't been able to get his cutter to cut the way it usually does.

Yankee fans don't even enter into the realm of a time when Rivera won't be coming out of the bullpen, but the truth of the matter is, Rivera is a lot closer to his time being up than anything else.

It's almost unthinkable that anyone else could fill Mo's shoes. Yet, yesterday's performance served as a somewhat painful reminder that the Yankees and their fans may have to seriously start thinking about someone else coming out of the bullpen with the game on the line.

Hopefully the Sandman still has some dust left in his bag, but it would seem that he is starting to run out.

Major League Baseball Issues Suspension to Wrong Pitcher, Again

Marisa Scolamiero — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:31:22 -0400

It would appear that the guys running things at the Major League Baseball Commissioner's office are bored or are simply looking for new ways to irritate teams, owners, and fans.

The most recent atrocity committed by Bud's gang was the six game suspension issued to New York Yankees' pitcher A.J. Burnett for "throwing at" Nelson Cruz of the Rangers. While the pitch was definitely up and in, Burnett never actually plunked Cruz, yet he still got the suspension and was fined an undisclosed amount of money.

What makes this whole thing so ridiculous is that during that game, Rangers' pitcher Vincente Padilla hit Mark Teixeira twice, and was never issued a warning by the home plate umpire.

Padilla is known as being a head hunter, but more than that, he has a track record for plunking Teixeira. If he hit Teixeira once, it could be argued that the pitch got away from him, but twice? Not to mention the guy hitting behind Teixeira is Alex Rodriguez, and what pitcher in their right mind would want to put the guy in front of A-Rod on base?

Following Teixeira's second time of being beaned, Burnett threw up and in on Cruz, one of the Rangers' hottest hitters. It was then that the home plate umpire warned Burnett as well as both benches, and the rest of the game went on smoothly.

It seems that if anyone should have been given a suspension it should have been Padilla considering he actually hit someone twice. Burnett was simply showing that he had Teixeira's back without actually hitting someone.

It's naive to think that Padilla had no intention when he hit Teixeira. Teixeira has been one of the hottest hitters for the Yankees the past month, and with A-Rod regaining his stride after missing over a month due to hip surgery, Tex has been one of the best supporting bats in the lineup.

Teixeira revealed after the game, that in the first year of his career when he faced Padilla he hit two home runs off of him in his first two at-bats, and was hit in his third. When the two were teammates with Texas, Padilla would often hit opposing batters knowing that the opposing pitchers would go after Teixeira in retaliation.

Of course there are two sides to every story, and while Padilla hasn't said much since the incident, the facts seem to speak for themselves.

Yet Major League Baseball saw no reason to discipline Padilla, the pitcher that actually hit someone.

It definitely makes you scratch your head and wonder what those guys are doing in that office.

Perhaps they are talking about the monument they plan to enshrine to Bud Selig in Cooperstown for cracking down on the steroid issue. Maybe they're even fashioning their own plaques for being a part of the crusade.

Either way, it is clear that the people in charge of handing out disciplinary action in Major League Baseball have gotten it wrong yet again.

Seems like Bud and his gang would be better suited for something other than determining fair punishments. Maybe they should move to selling hot dogs at games since that requires a lot less thought with a smaller margin for error.

Then again, they may have trouble deciphering between sauerkraut and relish. It's very possible.

Joba Chamberlain Returns To The Mound In Cleveland Along With The Midges

Marisa Scolamiero — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:25:24 -0400

Of all the events that took place in the 2007 ALDS, the one that stands out the most was the attack of the midges during the final innings of the game.

For anyone who watched, it was one of the most unbelievable things ever to happen during a baseball game.

All of a sudden, it looked like snow was falling from the sky. The game took place in Cleveland during October, but the temperature was unseasonably warm, so needless to say there was no snow in the forecast.

As the camera angles zoomed in, all of a sudden it became apparent that the white specs were some kind of bug, not flakes.

The midges make their home on Lake Erie, and the warm temperatures cause their nests to hatch. No one was expecting them in October, which is why their presence caught everyone off guard, especially the Yankees.

Visibility became a serious issue for the Yankees on the field. They were all swatting the air trying to ward off the midges, but the little buggers weren't going anywhere.

Joba Chamberlain was the most affected by the presence of the midges. He was lights-out the inning before the midges arrived, and the then rookie pitcher couldn't deal with the bugs sticking to him while messing with his concentration.

Yankee trainers hurried out to the mound with bug spray, and tried to hose Joba off. However, it was later revealed that bug spray is probably the worst way to combat the midges.

The Yankees ended up losing the game 2-1 on a run given up by Chamberlain. There was so much talk that if the midges never showed up, Joba would've never been affected and the Yankees would've taken Game 3, ultimately changing the entire dynamic of the series.

Almost two years later, Chamberlain made his return to the mound in Cleveland. During the entire four game series, the midges had once again joined the Yankees and Indians on the field.

Despite the pesky midges hovering for the entire game, Chamberlain pitched as if there were no bugs in sight. He went eight innings, gave up two runs, four hits, two walks, and struck out five in the longest outing of his major league career.

The highlight of the game was when Chamberlain dove for a bunt that was popped up. He landed with a thud, lost his cap in the process, and after he secured the catch, he threw down to second to complete the double play.

Joba's acrobatics sent most of his teammates into hysterics, but it helped the Yankees collect another win and wrap up their road trip with a 5-2 record.

Most importantly, Chamberlain got his velocity up and was able to stretch himself a full eight innings. In order for the Yankees to continue their winning ways, Chamberlain is going to have to turn out more performances like this one.

Maybe now that he's learned how to pitch around the midges he should have them around more often, because he pitched one, if not his best game as a starter tonight.

Who would've guessed that those little bugs could have the much of an effect?

A Love Affair with Baseball: What Is Often Forgotten About the Game

Marisa Scolamiero — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:58:55 -0400

Certain sports take a hold on people at a young age, while others develop a love a little later in life.

Most people can recall the exact moment that they fell in love with a sport or a team, and it is that moment that serves as the root for their connection to the sport/team.

For most "sports fans," we end up leaning toward a particular sport or team because our families have been supporting that team long before we were alive or they were actively involved in that sport.

We start out liking the sport for the little things; we like playing catch, or dribbling a basketball, or kicking a soccer ball, or making a tackle. There are no other distractions like statistics, annoying announcers, or stadium/arena antics to keep everyone entertained and interfere with the game, it's all about the game.

As time goes by, the sport fan starts watching their game on TV and usually has latched on to a particular team. This is where things become a lot more complicated.

There are all these things like commercials, the constant droning of announcers, replays of games past, and statistics that get in the way of just watching the game.

However, it becomes almost unavoidable to get wrapped up in those distractions the more a person evolves as a sports fan. The simplicity of enjoying all those little things that make the game so great slowly start to be forgotten.

As hard as it may seem, I cannot recall the moment that I fell in love with baseball. While I grew up a Yankee fan and played softball for six years, the majority of my childhood was occupied by playing soccer and basketball.

Once I got into college, things changed. I began to pay more attention to baseball and the daily occurrences of the Yankees. I went from only knowing the players on my team to having a wider range of knowledge. I had fallen hard for baseball, and I knew I had found something that I truly loved.

I'm not exactly sure what caused the change, but for the past six years, baseball has become a way of life. Unfortunately, I became just as distracted with all the other "stuff" as the rest of my fellow sports fans, and the simplicity of the game got lost in the mix.

My good friend Joe has been a baseball player/enthusiast for as long as I've known him. This year, he got the opportunity to serve as one of the baseball coaches at our high school. He'd been telling me how good the team was, and I was eager to check them out.

I got to a game about a month ago, and I was really impressed with how good the group of players was. There was no distractions going on, just a bunch of kids playing a game they loved.

However, it wasn't until last week that those group of kids gave me a reminder I needed badly.

The team had made it into the playoffs, and was facing our arch rival from the next town over the day after Memorial Day. The weather was awful; cold with spurts of rain the entire day. I told Joe that I would show up for a little while since it was such a big game.

A little while turned into a little longer, then just one more inning, until finally I was committed to stay to the end. I was cold, wet, and had no real ties to anyone on the team, yet I couldn't move from my spot.

Every time our pitcher threw his fastball it would make that great popping sound in the catcher's glove, and I wanted to hear it over and over again. The infielders were so slick with their fielding that I found myself eagerly anticipating the next double play they were going to turn.

They ended up winning and advancing to the next round of the playoffs. After a hectic, and what felt like a never ending day at work on Friday, I drove up to my high school for the next game.

I stayed for the entire game, and was again impressed by the stellar play of this group of kids. I was watching how our pitcher mixed his fastball with his change up and how he could put his fastball just about anywhere he wanted. The pitcher that came in and relieved him, was a lefty and I couldn't get over how good his stuff was.

What I loved most was how when they were in the dugout, everyone was on their feet cheering their teammates on. Every time someone scored a run, the entire team was out of the dugout waiting to congratulate him, and it was apparent how much they love playing the game together.

I found myself beaming every time they made a good play, struck out an opposing hitter, or scored a run. The game ended when our clean-up hitter hit a three-run home run to give his team an 11-1 victory and the first sectional title in almost 15 years.

Everyone jumped up and down at home plate, high fived, hugged, and cheered. It was positively pure joy. It was in that moment, watching that group of kids, that I remembered why I love baseball so much.

I love watching a good pitcher, I love slick fielding plays and stolen bases. I also love big hits, bunts, and great outfield catches. All the other stuff is really insignificant.

That group of kids reminded me all the reasons my love affair with baseball started, and why it will always be there.

Thanks to Yankees' New Vibe, Pies in the Face Are Becoming Popular in the Bronx

Marisa Scolamiero — Mon, 25 May 2009 11:47:31 -0400

Most walk-off wins are met with jumping around home plate, hugs, a pat on the back, lots of high fives—and shaving cream pies?

The Yankees have taken to rewarding the heroes of their walk-off wins with a shaving cream pie in the face. A.J. Burnett started the tradition, and it's something that's apparently sticking.

What makes this even more unique is that the pie to the face occurs right before the game's hero gets interviewed for a post-game report. Who wouldn't want to give an interview with shaving cream all over their face?

Up until this season, the Yankees would've celebrated a walk-off win with excitement, but that would've been the end of it.

This season, however, the Yankees are making the most out of every victory that they get, a sign that this team is having a lot more fun than in the past.

The shaving cream pies to the face aren't the only thing the Yankees have incorporated as part of their clubhouse fun.

Burnett gave Johnny Damon a wrestling belt as a way of saying thanks for showing his kids some wrestling moves. The belt now gets passed on a daily basis to the guy who has the best game. Everyone wants the belt, so that little added incentive is another positive thing in the clubhouse.

However, the biggest sign that the Yankees are all enjoying the loose clubhouse atmosphere was the holding of "kangaroo court" in the clubhouse last week.

Players, coaches, and staff were gathered in the back room of the clubhouse for over an hour, where fines were issued for a variety of antics that have occurred during the first 39 games of the season.

Mariano Rivera served as the judge, while Derek Jeter, Burnett, and Damon acted as jury members. The fines handed out could be for just about anything.

Phil Coke was fined $30 for giving up a home run to Joe Mauer, Nick Swisher was fined $20 for agreeing to do a post-game interview and forgetting to put on a shirt, and Damon was fined for showing up late to court.

The fine that earned the most laughs throughout the clubhouse was when Mo fined Alex Rodriguez for not showing up until May 8 to start the season.

All of these things have nothing to do with playing baseball, but in their own way, they are important.

A loose, pleasant clubhouse atmosphere is good for the entire team. That's not to say that they don't focus on winning, because the victories are what keep the smiles on everyone's faces.

Many of the players credit the new feel to the clubhouse to the day back in spring training when Joe Girardi canceled practice and took his players on a field trip to a pool hall as a way to break up their schedule and to have some fun.

Another factor is that the players' families are now allowed in the clubhouse. In years past, families have been barred from the clubhouse, most likely because they are viewed as a distraction. This season, Girardi has changed that rule, and his players couldn't be happier.

While the pies, the belt, and kangaroo court may seem insignificant, they have brought the players together. Of course, if there was a lot of losing going on, this merriment would not exist.

Most people view the Yankees as an all business type of organization, but this group of players is showing that they know how to win and have fun all at the same time. The fact that there are new personalities on the team this year, like Burnett and Swisher, add to a new type of vibe surrounding the entire team.

Sometimes all it takes is something so small to keep a team going in the right direction. Over the course of the season, the Yankees will experience their share of wins and losses, but as long as there is the prospect of shaving cream pies and a championship wrestling belt, there is something that is bonding them in a way that hasn't existed in a long time.

Hopefully this band of brothers can translate their good vibes into a lot more success that will last all the way through October.

My First Visit to Yankee Stadium: Much More Than Just Watching a Game

Marisa Scolamiero — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:31:06 -0400

For the past couple of months, I've listened to other people's accounts of their visits to the new Yankee Stadium. I've looked at pictures, watched on TV, but hadn't experienced it for myself.

When the game I was supposed to go to on April 20 was rained out I wasn't sure when I'd get to the stadium.

Two weeks ago, I found some good tickets and was going to take my cousin to the game as his college graduation gift. One day after I purchased the tickets he informed me that he forgot that he had to attend a dinner at his girlfriend's school.

I was looking at the possibility of not being able to go again, and I had to figure something out fast. My dad happened to be sitting next to me when I got the word that my cousin couldn't go, and he offered to step in.

It's a rare occasion when my dad and I get to go to a game just us. I've been watching games with my dad for as long as I can remember. No one else is requiring his attention, and for a few hours it's all about baseball.

Tuesday night we headed to the Bronx, and were set to check out the Yankees' new house.

Over the past five years, I'd become so familiar with the old stadium that I could find my way through there with my eyes closed. Now I was in unfamiliar territory.

My friend, Joe, had warned me that I would feel somewhat strange when I stepped foot into the new stadium, and he couldn't have been more right.

I was in such awe of the stadium, I almost forgot I was going to a baseball game. As we walked through Gate 4 and into the Great Hall I couldn't believe how much space there was to walk. People weren't trying to squeeze past each other, and there was a clear view of everything in front and in back of you.

The banners of the Yankee greats that hang in there were probably one of my favorite things that I saw. The old time Yankees like Ruth, DiMaggio, and Gehrig appear in black and white, while more current legends like Jackson, Munson, and Mattingly are on the opposite sides in color.

Once we walked through there our first order of business was simple. Get a hot dog. The Nathan's hot dogs more than passed the test for a good ballpark dog, and now we could start our tour of the place.

For over an hour and twenty minutes we covered a lot of ground. We tried and failed to eat in NYY Steak and the Hard Rock Cafe. The lines for the museum and Monument Park were both too long, and we voted in favor of checking everything out rather than wait in line.

We sampled several concessions including pulled pork sandwiches at Brother Jimmy's BBQ (which I highly recommend), as well as the Lobel's steak sandwich. We rounded off our pre-game eating and drinking with a quick stop in the Tommy Bahama Bar, which is a very spacious bar with several TVs, and plenty of room to stand.

At 6:50, we headed to our seats on the second level. We were almost directly behind the Yankee dugout, so we had a great view of the entire field. The field looked exactly the same, which gave off the feeling like a part of the old stadium was still there.

Some things hadn't changed at all. The Bleacher Creatures still did their role call as the first inning was underway, the grounds' crew performed the YMCA while they swept the dirt during the sixth inning, and Kate Smith's voice still filled the stadium with "God Bless America" for the seventh inning stretch.

What I liked the least was that Monument Park is no longer in left center field but in straight away center field. You used to be able to see straight into Monument Park from the stands, but now it is somewhat hidden in center field.

I found myself looking out to the left field stands for the out of town score board, but all I kept seeing were advertisements. The out of town score board now resides in the monitor in right field and gives detailed analysis of each game in digital form.

It was a pretty spectacular night. Sabathia pitched a gem, despite giving up one run in the first inning.

My dad turned to me in the bottom of the sixth inning and said he had hoped that the offense would do a little more in support of Sabathia. I assured him that they just needed to hear "God Bless America", and then they'd score some runs.

Sure enough, the Yankees came alive in the bottom of the seventh. The captain broke the game open with a bases clearing double to make it 6-1.

Johnny Damon scored Jeter with a double of his own, and then Mark Teixeira hit a monster home run to put the Yankees up 9-1. Brian Bruney made his first appearance since coming off the DL, and the Yankees wrapped up their seventh win in a row.

The night couldn't be complete, however, without one more thing...

Before heading for the car, my dad and I got some Carvel ice cream in a Yankee souvenir cap. A Yankee win on my first visit to the ball park, a great tour of the new house, a game with my dad, capped off with some Carvel.

Not a bad night at all.

My First Visit to the New Yankee Stadium

Marisa Scolamiero — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:09:53 -0400

After months of waiting and hearing everyone else's tales of the new stadium, I finally made my way through the new gates of Yankee Stadium on May 19, 2009. I regret to say that I don't have any pictures of myself at the game, and I think that's because my dad and I were too busy taking everything in that we forgot about including ourselves in the pictures. From start to finish it was an AMAZING night. I thought it would only be fair to share my experience with the rest of the Bleacher Community.

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Yankees-Twins: Coke Earns First Career Save and Yanks Win Sixth Straight

Marisa Scolamiero — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:09:37 -0400

Besides Mariano Rivera, Phil Coke has been Joe Girardi's most reliable guy out of the bullpen. Due to the fact that Rivera has been used on back-to-back days for a total of four innings, Girardi knew he couldn't go to his closer in the late innings of the game.

Enter Phil Coke.

Andy Pettitte managed to pitch into the seventh inning, but he couldn't finish. The Yankees had watched their 6-2 lead slowly be chipped away from the second inning. The score was 7-4 when Pettitte left the mound, and the Twins were threatening.

Edwar Ramirez wasn't able to shut down the Twins, and suddenly the score was 7-5. Justin Morneau was the next batter due up, and Ramirez's night was over.

Coke entered with two outs and the tying run at the plate. He managed to strike Morneau out swinging to end the threat.

The eighth inning went smoothly, and that's usually where Coke would hand the ball off to someone else, usually Rivera. There was no way Rivera would be available to pitch, and considering how unreliable Veras and Alabaledejo have been, sticking with Coke for the ninth inning seemed to be the best idea.

Coke had never earned a save in the majors. His nerves showed as he gave up a run to cut the lead to 7-6. His pitches weren't as precise as they had been earlier, and he was starting to walk batters.

Francisco Cervelli had to go out and calm his pitcher down. He had to remind him that he could do this, and to just pretend it was just the two of them playing catch. Sounds easy, right?

Coke made everyone sweat the last out. He ran the count to 3-2 again, but managed to get the final out of the game, to give the Yankees their sixth straight win.

After the game, Coke was asked how he felt in the closer's role, and he was speechless. He explained that he went up to Rivera and told him that Mo was much better at that job than he is. Coke entertained the media with his adoration for the job that Rivera has done so successfully all these years. He was still somewhat disoriented and couldn't give an accurate account of how he felt during that ninth inning.

You have to be a certain kind of person to deal with pitching in the closer role in New York. It's difficult playing in New York as it is, and when the game is on the line in the final inning of the game, the guy on the mound has to be able to handle the pressure of nailing down the win.

Coke may not have a lot of experience as a closer. He may be better off pitching the seventh or eighth inning. Yet tonight he put his own comfort level and nerves aside so that he could help his team.

The Yankees have six straight wins and Coke has his first major league save. All in all, the young left hander is feeling pretty good right about now. After that performance it would be hard to feel anything but good.

The Pitch Count: Does it Hurt or Help Young Pitchers in the Long Run?

Marisa Scolamiero — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:26:13 -0400

One of the most talked about things in the game of baseball in this day and age is the pitch count that pitchers now adhere to. What makes this such a topic for debate is that 10, 20, 50 years ago, the number of pitches a pitcher threw in a particular game wasn't a huge factor of concern.

Back in the day, if a pitcher got to the seventh inning and just gave up the lead, he would likely be removed from the game for that reason, not because he had reached or was close to a certain amount of pitches.

I'm sure there are a lot of statistics that would show that once a pitcher gets close to 100 pitches, he's going to be less effective, and that's when it's time to bring on the relievers.

Does it make sense to lift a pitcher from a game when he has the lead and has been throwing well the entire game just because he's at the magic number?

If the pitcher is throwing the ball well into the seventh inning, and then gives up a couple of hits to either relinquish the lead or put the other team within striking distance, there are many that would say the manager waited too long to pull him.

The same is true that if the manager took out his pitcher when he was going good because of the pitch count and the bullpen blew the game, everyone would wonder why the manager didn't let the pitcher go on a batter-by-batter basis.

Years ago, pitchers weren't coddled the way they are now. There was no five-man rotation, they didn't have an innings limit, they weren't limited by a pitch count, and if they had to pitch on short rest, that's what they did.

The theory seems to be that a lot of guys end up blowing out their arms early on in their careers because they weren't stretched out properly, and as a result things like pitch count and innings limits come into play.

If an organization drafts a young pitcher, the last thing they want to do is see that pitcher being sidelined because they aren't used to pitching that much. That's a shot to their investment, and no one wants to deal with that.

Pitchers like Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes have been on an innings limit since they joined the big league club. The organization doesn't want them to be pushed too soon. However, that somewhat limits the team.

If they aren't supposed to throw more than 85 pitches in any given start, for example, they may reach that total by the fourth or fifth inning. Is it really helping the rotation if two of their starting pitchers can only go four or five innings every time out?

Or a manager will pull them earlier than other guys in the rotation because their innings have to be monitored. If the starting pitcher is throwing a good game, and his pitch count is under 100, why should he be taken out? That is how so many bullpens get blown out.

The pitch count also distracts from the game. The pitching coach, the manager, the media, and the fans have become so aware of the pitch count and often use that as a measurement for when a pitcher is nearing their breaking point.

I'm not a pitching coach, but I am willing to bet that the number really doesn't tell as much as people would like to think. On some nights a pitcher can throw 110 pitches and not labor through their pitches, and other nights they can throw 85 pitches and battled through every at-bat.

Maybe the real problem is that there are far too many things to consider when it comes to how to handle young pitchers. All of that takes away from what's really important—letting the guys just pitch.

How Dropping Lots of Money Hasn't Helped the New York Yankees Win a World Series

Marisa Scolamiero — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:36:42 -0400

The other night I was talking to one of the guys in my fantasy baseball league, and he posed several topics to me to write about. One of the ones I found the most interesting is the difference in how the Yankees dealt with filling a position hole in the mid-late-'90's to the way they do it now.

That really got me thinking. It seemed like back then if the Yankees had a position spot that needed to be filled they rarely signed a high priced free agent. They made a trade or signed a seasoned veteran, and ended up winning four championships in six years.

Since 2001, they broke away from that formula and haven't won a World Series since. Obviously there are many factors that contribute to a team winning or losing, but there is something to be said for a change in the way of things being done as part of the reason.

After Don Mattingly retired, the Yankees needed to fill the hole at first base. They witnessed first hand the damage that Tino Martinez could inflict on his opponents, and decided that trading for the reliable veteran was the best way to fill Mattingly's spot.

Tino went on to play six seasons in the Bronx, won four World Series rings, and came through in some of the most clutch situations.

When the Yankees let Tino go after 2001, they went after the high priced and overrated Jason Giambi. Giambi couldn't match what Tino did for the Yankees. He played for the Yankees for six seasons and the Yankees never won the World Series while Giambi was there.

He ended up being involved in the steroid scandal, and spent much of his time in New York battling different injuries that prevented him from playing.

Giambi doesn't get re-signed after 2008, and the Yankees first trade for Nick Swisher. Swisher can play the outfield and first base, so the Yankees planned to use him in a variety of spots.

It appeared as if the Yankees were reverting back to their old ways by trading for a guy that wasn't necessarily an All-Star, but could provide the Yankees with a lot of options.

And then, the Yankees went out and managed to land the high priced free agent named Mark Teixeira. I happen to believe that Teixeira is a much better signing than Giambi was because he's a switch hitter and he can actually play first base.

However, there's always more of a focus on the type of contract that a guy like Teixeira gets than on anything else. If he's in a slump it always goes back to the amount that he gets paid, instead of just letting him make the transition.

If Teixeira ends up not helping the Yankees win at least one World Series during his time in pinstripes, the signing will be viewed as a complete bust.

The situation is the same for the position of third base. After the '96 season, Wade Boggs left the Yankees as a free agent, and they had a few guys like Charlie Hayes to fill the spot, but the team knew they needed more than that. Before the '98 season, the Yankees traded for Oakland third baseman Scott Brosius.

Brosius was a veteran who just came off of one of the worst seasons of his career. No one expected that he would contribute much to the team.

Somehow, Scott Brosius was able to shine in New York. He made plays at third that reminded Yankee fans of the days of Graig Nettles, and he came through in the clutch when most people would've counted him as an easy out.

Brosius became a fan favorite with his feats in the '98 World Series (He was the MVP of the series). Not to mention he helped the Yankees rally from behind during the 2001 World Series. He was a solid player who handled playing in New York with such ease that it looked like Brosius had been there his entire career.

Once Brosius was gone after 2001, the Yankees filled third base with a couple of people. One of those people was Aaron Boone and while he didn't have the same kind of success that Brosius did, he will forever be known as the guy that sent the Yankees to the World Series and the Red Sox packing with one swing of his bat.

Boone was going to be the starting third baseman for the 2004 season, but ended up blowing out his knee in the offseason, which allowed the Yankees to trade for Alex Rodriguez.

At the time, it seemed like the best thing that could happen to the Yankees, but five years later, a lot of people are questioning that move. During A-Rod's time in New York, the Yankees haven't made it to the World Series, and only once made it past the ALCS.

His post season production is nothing to speak of, and as a result, Yankee fans are left to wonder if they would've been better off with someone else.

Of course, there is the whole issue of hind sight, and if we all knew what we know now would the choice still be the same? Unfortunately, the trend of signing high priced free agents in the place of solid veterans is not yielding the results that the Yankees are looking for.

It is difficult to ignore this when teams like the Red Sox are putting together a competitive team year after year with a lot of solid veterans and farm hands and having success.

A team like Tampa Bay, with no where near the spending capabilities as the Yankees managed to win the AL east with guys that they had in their farm system and a mix of reliable veterans.

That's what the Yankees used to do. They brought up guys like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Jorge Posada, homegrown players to mix in with a group of veterans that knew how to get things done.

Over the past couple of seasons, the Yankees have made moves to look like they are going back to the old way, with the promotion of Robinson Cano, Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and Joba Chamberlain to the big league club.

Even this year, the Yankees have promoted guys like Francisco Cervelli, Brett Gardner, and Ramiro Pena to fill in for injured regulars. It is uncertain whether or not these changes will produce the positive results the Yankees are looking for.

Still, it's hard not to wonder if the Yankees had never messed with their way of doing things if there might be a few more championships banners hanging.

Just goes to show you, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Johnny Rocket: Damon Provides the New York Yankees with a Much Needed Burst

Marisa Scolamiero — Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:03 -0400

Johnny Damon has been one of the Yankees' hottest hitters over the past month. Damon is batting .314 with nine home runs, and 25 RBI. He has been providing most of the Yankee offense for the past couple of weeks.

Before Jorge Posada landed himself on the DL, he was providing a lot of the offense. Alex Rodriguez has played three games since coming off the DL, and it is uncertain exactly what he'll be able to do as he works his way back from the hip surgery.

Mark Teixeira is barely hitting .200 and hasn't been able to provide the line up with much support either. Hideki Matsui has also cooled off lately as well so the Yankees' offensive weapons are becoming less and less.

Damon, who's usually the guy laying down a bunt or getting an infield hit to set the table for the offense, has been the one hitting the big home runs lately.

Johnny is in the last year of his contract with the Yankees and has expressed interest in returning next year. There are many who believe players push themselves more in the final year of their contracts so that when it's time to negotiate, they are in a better position.

However, for Johnny Damon, his success has less to do with trying to get a better contract, and more to do with being healthy.

When he first joined the Yankees, Damon was plagued with leg injuries. He had a broken bone in his foot from a crash into the outfield wall in Toronto, and the cramps he'd get in his calves also limited his playing time.

In 2006, Damon reported to camp over weight and out of shape. He had to catch up to everyone else, and as a result didn't put up the numbers he wanted to.

For the 2007 and 2008 seasons, he put up decent numbers. He was relatively healthy, despite the shoulder injury he suffered last July after crashing into the wall at Yankee Stadium.

What many people didn't realize at the time was that while Johnny dealt with the physical injuries, he also dealt with the feeling that he might not want to play baseball any more.

After suffering the broken bone in his foot in 2005, Damon spent the off season at home taking it easy. All he wanted to do was take that time to play with his kids, but when the simplest thing like chasing them became difficult, he felt no motivation to get in shape for baseball.

Damon went to Joe Torre the following spring and expressed his lack of desire to play. Torre and the Yankees allowed Damon some time off to get his head together, and after a visit with his father, a retired army vet, Damon was ready to play ball.

Yet, in 2007, Damon was visited by the same doubts again, and the Yankees weren't sure what to expect from Damon. That spring, he left the team for a few days. If the organization was asked where he was, they simply explained that he was dealing with some personal matters.

After a few days, Damon realized he needed to be with his team. Since then, Johnny hasn't wavered in his desire to play baseball.

2009 has started off as a stellar year for Johnny Damon. Despite being moved to the two-hole in the line up to help the number of double plays Derek Jeter was hitting in to, Damon is still setting the table for the bigger bats in the line up.

Right now, Damon is the big bat in the line up, and with his legs healthy, he's giving the Yankees exactly what they need, and that's an offensive power boost.

New York Yankees: Missing Their Fiery Leader with the Absence of Jorge Posada

Marisa Scolamiero — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:48:05 -0400

Last season, the Yankees had to play most of the season without Jorge Posada. Posada has been the starting catcher since 1999, and his absence provided more than a spot to fill behind home plate.

Derek Jeter may be the Yankee captain, but Jorge Posada is the vocal leader of the clubhouse. Posada is a tough, grind it out type player who will get on his teammates if he feels like they are slacking.

The Yankees missed that extra fire that Posada provides last season, and they were looking forward to his presence in the line up as well as in the clubhouse.

Early on, Posada showed signs that his surgically repaired shoulder was more than healed. He was able to nail a few base runners, and was hitting for power.

Unfortunately, the Yankees had to place Posada on the 15-day DL on May 5 due to a hamstring strain, once again leaving more than just a spot to fill behind home plate.

Jose Molina is a sufficient back up as far as defense goes, but the Yankees had to place him on the DL just two days after Posada went down with a grade-two strain of his quad. The only thing for the Yankees to do was call down to AAA-Scranton for some help in the form of Francisco Cervelli and Kevin Cash.

What hurts the Yankees almost more than not having Posada in the line up is not having his voice in the clubhouse.

Posada is the guy who, in 2007, when the Yankees were fighting desperately to get into the playoffs, gave everyone in the clubhouse a t-shirt that said "Grind it out." This was Posada's rally cry for the team, and his constant reminder that no matter how bad things looked, they had to keep fighting, keep grinding out wins to make it to the postseason.

The Yankees won the AL Wild Card that year.

Since Posada went down, the Yankees went on a downward spiral. The team looked completely deflated after losing five straight, and there was no one there to provide that spark to keep the Yankees motivated.

Everyone is hoping that with the return of Alex Rodriguez, who was back in the lineup on Friday, the Yankees will get the jolt that they need.

The truth is that Alex usually causes more of a stir in the things he does rather than provide a positive jolt. And let's face it, A-Rod isn't so much of a team guy that everyone is going to rally around him in the same way that they would for Posada.

A lot of people may think that professional athletes shouldn't need any kind of spark or motivation to get them going in the right direction, but the truth is, the long season is draining and with all the ups and downs that occur over the 162-game season, even superstar athletes need a push from time to time.

Jorge Posada is the one who pushes everyone else. When the Yankees were on their championship run, those teams were all on the same page; however, the mixture of players that have come and gone since 2001 have not all been on the same page, which has affected the success of the team. That is why Posada feels the need to remind everyone exactly where they should be.

Posada is an invaluable piece to the Yankees, and hopefully he is able to return in two weeks time.

The longer Posada is absent, the worse it is for the team. The Yankees saw how Posada's absence last year affected them, and they definitely don't want to repeat that any time soon.

There's a Lot More to Zack Greinke Than a Great Arm

Marisa Scolamiero — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:26:12 -0400

During my fantasy draft, Zack Greinke's name kept standing out to me. I didn't know a lot about him, but I felt like I remembered him having pretty good stats. I ended up drafting him, and to date he's been the best pitcher on my staff as well as the best pitcher in baseball.

A few years ago, when Greinke was drafted by the Royals he was considered to be a pitching prodigy. Early on he showed that he had the make up to be a No. 1 type pitcher.

However, he struggled with something that not only effected his game, but his life as well.

The thing about Zack Greinke is that he isn't the type of guy that dreamed of being a major league pitcher. He never wanted to pitch. He was more fascinated with hitting home runs than he ever was with trying to strike hitters out.

In high school, he took part in a home run derby, and pitched occasionally when his coach needed him to. His coaches pushed him into pitching because he was far too good not to pitch.

Most people who know Greinke will tell you that he is a little on the strange side. He's not the type of guy you will find sitting in the clubhouse talking with his teammates or talking to the media.

He's the one staring into his locker or looking bored when he's getting asked questions. He's likely to wander off on the days that he's pitching and fall asleep somewhere around the stadium.

In 2005, Greinke was having an awful season. Nothing was working for him the way it normally did. During one game, he told his manager that he planned on throwing a 50 mph curveball, and when he went out there, the radar guns confirmed the proclamation Greinke had made earlier.

Now, why would a guy with the capability of throwing in the mid-90s feel like all he could throw was a 50 mph curveball to get hitters out?

The truth was Greinke wasn't happy pitching. As a result, he was getting into arguments with his pitching coach and growing even more distant from his teammates. He didn't like having five days between his starts because he was unoccupied, and talked to his family about wanting to become a position player so he'd have more playing time.

Things got worse for Greinke the following spring. He was so unfocused he couldn't pitch. He couldn't throw strikes during his bullpen sessions let alone at any other time. He informed his pitching coach and his manager that he needed to take some time off from baseball.

The Royals allowed Greinke to take the time off, and it was then that he was diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder, a condition that occurs in high tension social situations.

Luckily with the help of everyone around him and medication, Greinke was able to get himself back in a good frame of mind. He pitched his way back into the Royals' starting rotation, and has been lights out so far in 2009.

Many people think that a social anxiety disorder is one of those made up diseases that people say that they have to mask whatever their problem is. However, as someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder, I can vouch that it is in no way made up.

Anxiety can be debilitating. It can make you feel like someone is standing on your chest and you can't breathe. You feel trapped, you can't focus, and that only gets worse when you feel like everyone is zeroing in on you.

Thankfully, it can be dealt with in a variety of ways. Sometimes all a person needs is a little bit of time on medication to feel like they are in control of their lives again, and then they are able to function without it. There are lots of ways to try and eliminate stress or at least keep it at a lower rate and focus on one thing at a time.

I had difficulty feeling calm around small groups of people; Greinke had to pitch in front of thousands of people a night, and that alone can cause anxiety never mind if you already suffer from it.

Zack Greinke will never be the guy that is chatting it up in the clubhouse or laughing with his teammates in the dugout, but he will be able to help his team. He is fortunate that he was able to recognize his problem, and get help.

It is because of that that Greinke has been able to emerge as the dominating pitcher everyone always thought he would be. He still may not love to pitch, but he loves to compete, and that is what fuels his ability.

The Royals love what he's doing as does every fantasy owner who pencils him in every fifth day. It's always good to see someone overcome an obstacle and come out on top.

Keep up the good work, Zack!