Yankees Derek Jeter is Sports Illustrated's 2009 'Sportsman of The Year'

Yankees captian Derek Jeter has been named the Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year." He is the first Yankee to ever win the award and it comes on the heels of him also winning the 2009 Hank Aaron Award and 2009 Roberto Clementa Award. He also won another Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger Award and a fifth Word Series ring. And of course, he also broke the Yankees all-time hits record this season and batted .344 in the postseason and .407 in the World Series. Here's a link to just one of the many stories hitting the newswires today about the SI Award:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/11/30/2009-11-30_jeter.html

Bob Sheppard officially retires

The great Bob Sheppard, 99, has officially retired as the public address anouncer of the New York Yankees. Bob, who was unable to announce any games at the new Yankee Stadium in 2009, says it's time for him to hang up the microphone for good. To many, this man was as much a part of going to Yankee Stadium as the game itself. Here's a link to a nice interview with Sheppard explaining his reasons:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/11/26/2009-11-26_bob_sheppard_officially_steps_aside.html

Bernie Williams brings his guitar to NEPA

Former Yankees star Bernie Williams, who is also a critically acclaimed musician, will perform in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday, Nov. 21. To read an interview with Williams about his music, and how his time with the Yankees has somtimes influenced that music, click the link:

http://www.theweekender.com/music/Williams_an_All-Star_on_guitar_11-17-2009.html

Yankees 2009 World Series Championship trophy coming to Misericordia University

Alfred Santasiere III, an alumnus of Misericordia University and co-author of "Yankee Stadium: The Final Season, The Official Retrospective," will sign copies of the book at the Anderson Sports-Health Center on the campus of Misericordia University, Saturday, November 21 at 3 p.m. The 2009 World Series trophy will also be on display and fans will have an opportunity to have their picture taken with the trophy. "Yankee Stadium: The Final Season, The Official Retrospective," recounts the events that took place at Yankee Stadium in 2008.

Santasiere, 30, is the director of publications for the New York Yankees and serves as the editor-in-chief of Yankees Magazine and the New York Yankees annual yearbook.

Yankees: 2009 WORLD CHAMPIONS

The Yankees won the 2009 World Series tonight with an easy win over Philadelphia in Game 6. Andy was great. Pedro was not. The great and prideful Matsui - who hit .615 in the series and drove in six runs in Game 6 - is the series MVP. Jeter bats .407 and ties Ruth and Berra as the only players to hit over . 300 in five World Series. A-Rod carries team through postseason with huge hits. Damon was huge. Mo slams it down - again. Fifth ring for the "Core Four." #27 for the Yankees. #7 for "The Boss." Philadelphia fans - and even some of the players - kept saying how they wanted the Yankees. Well, there's an old saying: Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. Phillies are a great team. Much respect. But congrats to the Yankees - WORLD CHAMPIONS!

World Series Game 5: Phillies - 8, Yankees - 6

The Phillies got back into the World Series last night with a 8-6 win in Philadelphia. Burnett didn't have anything and was gone early. Girardi rolled the dice by throwing him on short rest, and some say he has greatly compromised the staff for the rest of the series. Some, however, are still saying it was the right move, and that he has always managed aggressively and was simply staying true to form. Throwing Gaudin - who hadn't pitched in a month - could have been viewed as the white flag vs. Cliff Lee. Joe went for the kill. It's one of those moves that if A.J. was on, would have been viewed as brilliant. The good news is that they did get to Lee and also managed to put a real scare into them in the 9th. The Phillies are the best opponent the Yankees have faced in a long time, but the Yankees are also the best opponent the Phillies have faced in a long time. They are not used to people punching them right back. In the American League, it happens all the time. This is how we play. This is what we do. This is hardball.
My goal was to split two in New York, go down to Philly and get one, and then come home and try and win two. We're in even better shape than that. And we are the best home team in baseball. And Andy says he feels great.
LET'S GO !!!

World Series Game 4: Yankees - 7, Phillies - 4

The Yankees took a 3-1 lead in the World Series last night with an incredibly gutsy win in Philadelphia. Yanks take the crowd of the game early by scoring two in the first. CC, on short rest, again battles like a man and leaves the game with the lead. Game tied in the 9th. Two outs. Damon has one of the best and most important at-bats of his life and then gets what could end up being the most important stolen base in Yankees history. Then, on a heads-up play, immediately dashes to third where no one is covering. A-Rod gets what he later calls the biggest hit of his life (and he's has quite a few huge hits this postseason) and Jorge adds some insurance. Mo slams the door. A great, great win.

World Series Game 3: Yankees - 8, Phillies - 5

The Yankees took a 2-1 lead in the World Series last night with a thumping come-from-behind win in Philadelphia. Huge home run from A-Rod woke the team up and got them back in the game. Girardi's loyalty to Swisher pays off with another bomb, and Matsui - pinch-hitting - also goes yard. There were also big hits from Damon and even an RBI single from Andy Pettite. You have to love the way Andy battled and never got unglued after giving up a few early runs, including two shots from Jayson Werth. Yanks have now hit 18 home runs this postseason and Pettite now has 17 career postseason wins. The win guarantees that no matter what happens in Game 4 or 5, this baby is going back to New York.

World Series Game 2: Yankees - 3, Phillies - 1

The Yankees evened the World Series last night at 1-1 with a great 3-1 win over the Phillies at Yankee Stadium. Pedro was very good, but A.J. Burnett was even better. This really felt like an old Yankees/Red Sox game with Pedro on the hill. Tight game. Yanks get a few runs off him in the middle innings and turn it over to Mo. We've all seen it many times. If we can somehow get 2 of 3 in Philly, we're in good shape. Huge win last night. A.J., Tex and Matsui may have saved the series.

World Series Game 1: Phillies - 6, Yankees - 1

Lee was lights out in Game 1. One of the best World Series pitching performances of all-time. CC was good - two runs through seven innings - but it wouldn't have mattered if he gave up 10 runs. The Yanks were not hitting. I'd hoped they'd win Game 1, so that even if they lost Game 2, they could go to Philadelphia just needing to win 1 of 3 games to make sure the series would go back to New York. Now, all of that is riding on Game 2 tonight. Don't really like the Burnett matchup against all of those good lefty hitters in the Phillies lineup. From an offensive standpoint, they are the best team the Yanks have faced in the World Series in a long time. Remind me a little of a left-handed Red Sox-type team. Hopefully, they'll get to Pedro tonight. I was hoping for a split at home. That's still possible. The whole thing is now in AJ's hands.

Yankees set to play in their 40th World Series

The 2009 World Series is set to begin on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. Share your thoughts on the games right here on this link throughout the series. We'll be posting comments after every game.

The drive for #27 continues ...

Yankees: 2009 American League Champions

Congratulations to the New York Yankees on winning the 2009 American League Championship. Andy gets the win. Mo gets the save. The new Yankee Stadium opens with a pennant. Happy for the old guard to play on the big stage one more time. Also happy for the young guys and those that have never been to the World Series. Much discussion to come later, but today, we simply say "Cheers to the '09 Yanks!" Very proud of how they have played this year.

Yankees are 10-2 in ALCS

The Yankees played in the American League Championship Series five times from 1976-1981 and won four of them. They also played in the ALCS seven times from 1996-2004 and won six of them. Overall, they are 10-2 when the World Series is on the line. There have been great moments ... Chambliss, Boone, El Duque. Let's hope 2009 gives us another.

Game 1 tonight. First pitch at 7:57 p.m.

LETS GO!

Mattingly vs. Yankees? Ugh ...

Caught Don Mattingly being interviewed by Dan Patrick on FOX Sports Radio yesterday and I must admit I can't stand the idea of Donnie possibly coaching against the Yankees in the World Series, should the Yanks and Dodgers advance. Even though he's only a coach and not the manager, Donnie coaching against us actually bothers me more than the idea of Joe Torre trying to beat us. Donnie said he hopes it happens, and that it would be fun. He said it would give him a chance to see the new Yankee Stadium, though he joked he'd only get to see the visitors' clubhouse. It all makes me sick. I refuse to even post of photo of Donnie in a Dodger uniform on this blog, and just the idea of Manny hitting a home run against the Yankees in a World Series game and Donnie slapping him on the back as he returns to the dugout also makes me physically ill. Donnie downplays it all, and you can judge for yourself if you think he's still upset about not getting the Yankees job. Here is a link to the interview: http://msn.foxsports.com/radio/radioShow?showId=2

How 'sweep' it is ...

Yanks swept the Twins in three. CC, AJ and Andy all pitched well, Jeter was Jeter, and A-Rod and Texiera got the biggest hits of all. Got a break on a bad call on the foul ball in Game 2, but the fact is the Yanks were not going to lose this series. They got sent home after the first round in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007, but this year, they really had the better team. And how about Papelbon blowing a three-run lead in Boston and the Sox getting swept? Nice.

Now, on to California, or Anaheim, or Los Angeles, of whatever the Angels are calling themselves this year. We've got a grudge with these guys and a score to settle. And I think we all agree twirling those red monkeys around during the games is just about the dumbest thing ever.

Let's go.

LET'S GO YANKEES ...

You had to love the beat down A-Rod put on Tampa Bay on Sunday. It was complete bush league to not pitch to Texiera and give him a shot at 40 home runs. The Twins/Tigers beat the hell out of each other for the past two weeks, so the Yanks are set up pretty good for the ALDS. Slightly concerned about Posada not catching in Game 2 because of Burnett. Having a switch-hitting catcher with power - who is also one of the leaders on the team - playing in the game is usually a good thing. A.J. better win.

THIS IS IT FOLKS.

11 games to go for #27.

LET'S GO.

Yankees win AL East title ...

The Yankees have won the 2009 American League East title. They did so by sweeping the Boston Red Sox today at Yankee Stadium. It was the team's 100th win of the season. Mo got the save. They have the best record in Major League Baseball. They have beat Boston in nine of their last 10 meetings. The clubhouse celebration was pretty wild. A great day in the Bronx. One down, three more steps to go. Let's all enjoy the win and get ready for the ALDS. Congratulations to the '09 Yanks.

Yanks poised for playoffs

OK ... we haven't blogged that much here over the past few weeks, but maybe that's simply because the Yanks opened up such a nice lead in the standings in August. What we have is two Cy Young candidates in CC and Mo, two MVP candidates in Jeter and Texiera and a Manager of the Year candidate in Girardi. We have a team that, with the exception of April and a little bump in June, has played great baseball all year. We've had surprising comebacks from Damon and Matsui and a fun clubhouse thanks to A.J and Swisher. I like this team. The bullpen, a great concern earlier this year, is actually not so bad these days. Our concerns should be Andy's shoulder, A.J.'s inconsistency and, of course Joba. I hope they know what they're doing with the kid. I think most of us are just confused with how they handle him. Fortunately, he's our fourth starter, which is never a big factor in October.

Postseason success is in the hands of CC, AJ and Andy. I like this team. No first-round exit this year. No way. Let's go ....

Derek Jeter breaks Yankees all-time hits record

Derek Jeter got hit number 2,722 last night at Yankee Stadium, passing the great Lou Gehrig as the Yankees all-time hit leader. Here is a statement issued by George Steinbrenner:

"For those who say today's game can't produce legendary players, I have two words: Derek Jeter. Game in and game out, he just produces. As historic and significant as becoming the Yankees' all-time hit leader is, the accomplishment is all the more impressive because Derek is one of the finest young men playing the game today. That combination of character and athletic ability is something he shares with the previous record-holder, Lou Gehrig. It adds to the pride that the Yankees and our fans feel today. Every Yankees' era has its giants. It's thrilling to watch Derek as he becomes one of the greats of his generation, if not all-time."

Mo is still the man

From the New York Daily News:

Mariano Rivera is leading the American League with 38 saves and is pitching to a 1.78 ERA. He has converted 34 straight saves opportunities, the longest streak of his career, while blowing only one save all season. He has allowed only one run in 29 appearances since June 12.

There is talk of a Cy Young Award for Mo. He probably won't win it, because relievers rarely do, but as he approaches the age of 40, I try to savor every time I see him pitch, whether I'm at the game, or just watching on TV. He is one of the most remarkable Yankees of all-time.