Yankees Universe: Weekly Update

(The Voice of Yankees Universe)

By Kevin Rozell on March 31st, 2009 at 1:04 am

Steven Marcus reports that George Steinbrenner will be on hand for the new stadium opener. “I spoke with him and he said he is going to be there,” the person said. “I doubt he will be at the welcome home dinner. But he said he is coming to the opener.” This is great news. He may not be in the best health, but I’m just glad he is able to come to the park. After all…he built it!

The Yankees and the rest of baseball lost a great baseball writer this past week. Arthur Richman passed away in his sleep in his home in NYC at the age of 83. It’s guys like this who make this game so much fun to follow. George M. Steinbrenner released this statement: “Arthur Richman made baseball and the New York Yankees an enormous part of his life, and I am grateful for his contributions both personally and professionally”

Brian Cashman said Friday, referring to Alex Rodriguez, “He’ll be back after we’re gone." “All is going good.”  Definitely good to hear. Whether the Yankees are 20-0 or 0-20…this team isn’t the same without A-Rod’s bat in the lineup. There is no arguing that.

The Yanks are now open to trading Melky before the season starts? With Gardner becoming the Yankees starting center fielder..Melky is out of a job. They are both going to be on the roster though. You never know what might happen with Gardner, so I don’t know how smart it would be to trade Cabrera away before the season started. Let’s wait and see what happens.

A new documentary about Yankee Stadium is being released. It is called “YANKEELAND: In the Shadow of the Stadium”. It actually looks really cool and I suggest you guys check it out.

The Yankees honored 9/11 victims with a memorial at George M. Steinbrenner Field this past Sunday. It was placed at the entrance of the stadium. It honors all those who lost their lives in the 2001 attacks, their families, and the members of the U.S. Armed forces. The memorial also contains a piece of steel from the WTC.

The organization decided to reassign eight players to minor league camps a few days ago.They were Todd Linden, Shelley Duncan, John Rodriguez, Doug Bernier, Justin Leone, P.J. Pilittere, Chris Stewart, Dave Robertson. 

The Yankees also lost a member of some of those great Yankees teams back in the day. Johnny Blanchard passed away at the age of 76. He died of a heart attack in Minnesota. He spent 8 seasons with the Yankees (1955, 1959-1965)

Bernie Williams still wants to play in the major leagues again, but where exactly could he go? The Yankees will have both Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera on the roster and they don’t really have room for him. Are the Yankees really interested in him? Who knows. Nobody even knows if he is willing to play for any other team besides the Yanks, so this story might just fade away.

More variety of food at Yanks’ new park / Clearing up some roster questions

Yankees still rule NY / Some Minor League News / Yanks look like a 95 win team

Jackson the Younger Impresses Jackson the Elder  / Yankees diss

Position battles rage, and Yankeeland is upbeat / The price you pay for parking

Mo’s still amazing / Kernan: Yanks Clubhouse Better This Year