ST Game 2: Yankees vs. Phillies From Steinbrenner Field

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES
Johnny Damon DH
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi 1B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Jason Lane LF
Melky Cabrera CF

Pitching
Andy Pettitte
Steven White
LaTroy Hawkins
Kyle Farnsworth
Brian Bruney
Sean Henn
Jose Veras

PHILLIES
Jimmy Rollins SS
Jayson Werth CF
Chase Utley 2B
Pat Burrell LF
Pedro Feliz 3B
Valentino Pascucci DF
So Taguchi RF
Brennan King 1B
Chris Coste C

Pitching
Cole Hammels

Game Summary:

- The Yankees opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when, Jason Giambi smacked a 3-run home run. 3-0 Yankees.

- The Yanks scored a fourth run on a solo homer from Jason Lane in the 2nd. 4-0 Yankees.

- Andy Pettitte looked solid in his two innings of work, here's his line: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 SO, 1 BB.

- In the top of the third inning, the Phillies scored a run on an Chris Coste RBI single. 4-1 Yankees.

- The Yanks got that run right back in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double for Jason Giambi scoring Bobby Abreu, who had previously singled. 5-1 Yankees.

- Steven White got roughed up in his second inning of work, giving up 3 runs on 2 hits. Scott Patterson came in to get the final out of the inning. The rally was capped off by a 2-run single by Brennan King. 5-4 Yankees after 3 and a half.

- Jason Lane started the bottom of the 4th with a triple, and was driven in on a sac-fly by Melky Cabrera, 6-4 Yankees after four.

- Latroy Hawkins pitched the top of the 5th, and looked vgood retiring the Phils 1-2-3 on three ground outs.

(Girardi was speaking with Michael Kay and said that Joba role has still not been decided)

- Well Kyle Farnsworth seems like he's in mid-season form, on the second pitch he threw this spring Pat Burrell launched a solo homer off of him. No more damage was done, 6-5 Yankees after five and a half.

- Brian Bruney cames in to pitch the 8th and walked the first batter he faced. Later in the inning he gave up a broken bat single with runners on 1st and 3rd to tie the game and then Greg Golsen followed with an RBI single giving the Phillies a 7-6 lead after seven and a half --- 25 lbs lighter, but still the same old Bruney.

-Justin Christian tied the game in the bottom of the 8th with a two-out RBI single to drive in Alberto Gonzalez who had previously reached on an error. 7-7 after eight.

FINAL: 7-7

Hitting Totals:

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, DH	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.333
a-Green, PH-DH	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000
Jeter, SS	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.200
Ransom, 3B	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	.500
Abreu, RF	3	2	2	0	0	0	1	.667
Curtis, RF	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	.500
Rodriguez, A, 3B	1	1	0	0	1	0	1	.500
Betemit, SS	3	0	0	0	0	2	2	.200
Giambi, 1B	3	1	2	4	0	0	0	.667
Molina, C	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	.000
Posada, C	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Miranda, 1B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Cano, 2B	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.333
Gonzalez, 2B	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1.000
Lane, LF	3	2	2	1	0	1	1	.600
Christian, CF	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	1.000
Cabrera, CF	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	.000
Woodward, LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.500
Totals	37	7	12	7	2	9	15

Pitching Totals:

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte	2.0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0.00
White	1.2	5	4	4	2	0	0	21.60
Patterson	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Hawkins	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Farnsworth	1.0	2	1	1	0	1	1	9.00
Henn	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Bruney	1.0	3	2	2	1	1	0	18.00
Veras	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

Sox Make Hank Honorary Member of Red Sox Nation - Hank Says No Thanks

From The Boston Herald (hat tip to Peter Abraham):

Shortly after the Yankees’ new Boss complained about “what a bunch of (expletive)” Red Sox Nation is, Red Sox principal owner John Henry has had a chance to respond.

Sensing jealousy, Henry is killing Steinbrenner with kindness. He’s adopting him as one of his own.

“I’m a big Hank fan,” wrote Henry in an email. “Just to ensure he knows how cool Red Sox Nation is, (Saturday) we officially inducted him as a member of Red Sox Nation and we are sending him his membership card giving him access to an array of options including our newsletter, bumper stickers, pins, Green Monster seats and a hat personally autographed by David Ortiz.”

That should make everyone happy now.

George A. King III had Hank's response:

"I am not joining Red Sox Nation, honorary or not," Steinbrenner said shortly before the Yankees played the Phillies today at Legends Field. "I'll respond to that later. Trust me, I am not joining Red Sox Nation."

"John is a great guy and my dad always loved him. I love him, Hal loves him. He has done a tremendous job with the Red Sox," Steinbrenner said. "My point was simple: the Yankee brand is the biggest in the country and everybody knows that. There is no dispute. That's not meant as a cut to the Red Sox. I am not just saying it, it's the truth. John has done an unbelievable job with the Red Sox brand."

Though Steinbrenner believes Red Sox-Yankees is the best and most intense rivalry in sports, he also let it be known the blood rivals on the field could be sharing a business bed off the diamond.

"I can tell you this, we have a lot in common," Steinbrenner said without explaining what ventures the clubs are exploring. "Red Sox ownership and Yankee ownership has a lot in common and a lot of common interests. You never know, we may end up being partners outside of baseball. The Yankees-Red Sox will always be the greatest rivalry in American sports on the field, but we have a lot in common in a lot of ways."

What would Bill Lee and Graig Nettles think of that? Or Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez? Or Don Zimmer and Pedro Martinez?

Steinbrenner said he wasn't trying to add fuel to the rivalry with his comments. And he didn't believe Henry's rebuttal flamed the fires.

"It is what it is and always will be," Steinbrenner said. "But we have a lot of things in common and we need to stick together on things. Yet on the other hand there will always be a rivalry. The players respect that and I think common respect is a healthy thing."

And this from the AP via MSG.com:

"It's going to be a tougher rivalry than it ever was in the past," Steinbrenner said. "It's going to continue to be a tough, tough, tough rivalry. And they're always going to be good as long as John is the owner."

But don't think Steinbrenner is easing up on the Yankees' greatest rival, saying New York "will be better, that's the bottom line."

Steinbrenner added: "I haven't soften on the Red Sox any, I don't want to worry the fans. We'll always be arch rivals."

Wang Improving His Changeup

From Kat O'Brien:

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Chien-Ming Wang has won 19 games each of the past two years, but he's still tweaking his repertoire in an attempt to get better.

Wang is working on his changeup, and he threw it about four times yesterday in the Yankees' 9-3 win over the.

"Now they have to think about a changeup, a sinker and a slider," catcher Jose Molina said. "They don't know what thing he's going to throw."

Pitching coach Dave Eiland said improving the changeup is a big focus. As for why he wants to make the changeup an option, Wang said: "Everybody sees sinkers hard. The changeup is soft."

George A. King III had this on Wang's change of pace:

"Winning 19 games is all well and good but you have to change," pitching coach Dave Eiland said of Wang's willingness to make the change-up an out pitch that can be used eight to 10 percent of the time.

From the Wang himself:

"Today the change-up was good and the slider was working," said Wang, who used the slider to strike out Pat Burrell looking. In two scoreless innings, Wang allowed a hit and fanned one.

"[AL East teams], you are going to see them four or five times so you have to make adjustments because they will make adjustments on you," Girardi said. ...

..."You can continue to develop the change-up and continue to locate better," Girardi said. "There are a lot of different things you can do but he is pretty polished."

Wang said he deleted the Cleveland nightmare (0-2; 19.06 ERA) and Girardi hasn't recognized signs otherwise.

"I have not seen that; I don't think it did," Girardi said of Wang still nursing a hangover. "He struggled a little bit; so did Cy Young last year, C.C. Sabathia. It's going to happen."

Eiland is already showing why he's going to be a very good pitching coach. With an improved changeup Wang should strike out more batters, and now, like Molina said, hitters can't sit on his sinker anymore. Having three effective pitches should make Wang that much better. Can you say 20 wins?

This Week In Yankees History

March 2nd - March 8th

March 2nd

1917 - Former Yankees pitcher James “Jim“ Konstanty (1954-56) was born. Jim helped out the Yankees bullpen in 1955, with 7 wins and 11 saves. Jim was 8-3 in 62 games as a Yankee. He was a member of the 1950 “Whiz Kids” Phillies, who won the NL pennant. Jim started the 1st game of 1950 World Series against the Yankees Vic Raschi, losing 1-0 only giving up 5 hits in 8 innings. He was the 1950 NL MVP, posting a 16-7 mark with 22 saves for the Phillies.
1918 - Former Yankees reserve OF Frank Colman (1946-47) was born. After being purchased from the Pirates in 1946, Frank appeared in 63 games hitting .187.

1921 - Former Yankees P Richard Starr (1947-48) was born. Richard was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1941. He went 1-0 in 5 games before being traded on December 13, 1948, by the Yankees along with P Red Embree, C Sherman Lollar, and $100,000 to the Browns for C Roy Partee and P Fred Sanford.

March 3rd

1872 - Future Yankee HOF INF/OF William “Wee Willie” Keeler (1903-1909) was born. Willie had a .295 lifetime BA as a Yankee. From 1903-1906, he hit over .300 each season. His lifetime BA as a MLB player was .345.

1918 - Yankees purchased 1B George Burns from the Tigers for cash, then trade him to the A’s for OF Ping Bodie.


March 4th

1891 - Former Yankees P and HOF Arthur “ Dazzy” Vance (1915-18) was born. He went 0-3 in 10 games with the Yankees, while battling arm problems. He would recover, being picked up by the Dodgers. He went 197-140 in a 16 yr MLB career. He was elected to HOF in 1955.
1897 - Former Yankee P Lefty O’Doul (1919-20,1922) was born. Lefty went 1-1 as pitcher before being sent the Red Sox. In NL, he would become a OF with a lifetime BA of .346.

1913 - The Yankees become the 1st MLB to conduct spring training outside of the US, when they begin the spring in Bermuda, where is projected a series of exhibition games.
1918 - Former Yankee P Mel Queen Sr. (1942, 1944, 1946-47) was born. Mel was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1938. Mel went 8-4 in 33 games for the Yanks, before being sold to the Pirates in 1947.

March 5th

1912 - Former Yankees Coach Jimmy “Gee Gee” Gleeson was born. Jimmy was a manager in the Yankee farm league system in the 1940-50’s. He never played for the team at MLB level. He was a member of the 1938 Newark Bears, the Yankees top AAA team.

1919 - Former Yankees 3B/OF Don Savage (1944-45) was born. Don hit .256 in 105 games for the Yanks.

1921 - Former Yankees OF Elmer Valo (1960) was born. Elmer was signed as free agent in December of 1959. Elmer only appeared in 8 games with the team before being released in May, 1960. Elmer was at the end of a fine MLB career, which started with the A's. The return of veteran OF Bob Cerv from the A’s made him expendable.

1922 - Yankees OF Babe Ruth becomes the highest paid player in ML history, when he signs a 3-yr contract that will pay him over $50,000 per season. In 1921, Ruth led the AL with 59 HRs and 171 RBIs. The next-highest-paid Yankees player is Frank “Home Run” Baker, at $16,000.

1973 - Yankees Pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson make a stunning declaration. The left-handers announce that they have traded wives, children, and family dogs. The announcement sends shock waves through the baseball world.


March 6th

1919 - Yankees sell P Ray Keating to Braves for cash.
1965 - Former Yankees C Wally Schang (1921-1925) passed away. After being obtained from the Red Sox in the Waite Hoyt trade, Wally hit .316 and .319 for the Yankees, before being traded to the Browns in 1926.

1977 - Former Yankees OF Marcus Thames (2002) was born. Marcus broke into the MLB with hitting a HR off of D-Backs P Randy Johnson. In 2003, he was traded to the Rangers for OF/DH Ruben Sierra.

1985 - Former Yankees OF Enos "Country" Slaughter (1954-55,1956-59) and Arky Vaughan are elected to the HOF. Slaughter, known for his hustling style of play with the Cardinals and later with the Yankees, gained fame for his celebrated "Mad Dash" home during the 1946 World Series. Vaughan batted .318 over a 14-yr career with the Pirates and Dodgers.
1990 - Former Yankee and HOF INF Joe Sewell (1931-1933) passed away. Joe spent most of his 14 year MLB career with the Indians. He finished out with the Yankees in 1931-1933. In 1931, he hit .302 and played on the 1932 Yankees. His lifetime BA mark was .312. He was the toughest player to fan in MLB history, only 114 times in his 14 yr MLB career. He was elected to HOF in 1977.
2005 - Suzyn Waldman becomes the 1st woman to be a full-time color commentator in MLB history, making her debut with John Sterling on WCBS-AM 880, the radio flagship of the Yankees. The former radio-talk host on WFAN, the 1st all-sports radio station in US, was also the 1st female to broadcast on a nationally baseball telecast as well as the 1st to provide local TV (Yankees) MLB play-by-play.


March 7th
1914 - Former Yankees OF Joseph “Muscles” Gallagher (1939) was born. Joe appeared in 14 games, hitting .244, before being traded on June 13, 1939, to the Browns for INF Roy Hughes and cash.

1954 - Former Yankees P Mike Armstrong (1983-1986) was born. Mike came to the Yankees in the trade that sent 1B Steve Balboni to the Royals. Mike went 3-3 with the Yankees before finishing up his ML career with the Indians.

1962 - Former Yankee minor leaguer P Jose Cano was born. He is the father of current Yankees 2B Robinson Cano. Jose appeared in the ML with Astros going 1-1 in 6 games. He originally signed by the Yankees in 1980, but he was released.

1998 - The Yankees sign P Orlando Hernandez, brother of the 1997 World Series hero Livan Hernandez, to a 4-yr, $6.6 million contract. El Duque would go 61-40 for the Yankees (1998-2004). He was 2-0 in World Series play and 7-2 in AL post-season games.

2006 - World Baseball Classic: Pool C Game: Yankees All Star CF Bernie Williams drove in a 6th-inning run to hand Puerto Rico a 2-1 victory over Panama.

2006 - Former Yankee backup Catcher, now with the Red Sox, John “Flash” Flaherty announces his MLB retirement, ending his 14-year ML career with the team he started it with. He signed in December of 2005 as a free agent after 3 seasons with the Yankees. Flaherty, who also played for the Tigers, Padres, and Devil Rays, John posted a lifetime .252 BA with 80 HRs and 395 RBIs in 1,047 games played.


March 8th

1930 – AL All Star OF Babe Ruth signs a 2-yr contract for $160,000 with the Yankees. At $80,000 per year, he is the highest paid MLB player of all time as of 1930.

1930 - Former Yankees P Bob Grim (1954-1958) was born. (1930-1996). In 1954, Bob was AL ROY after finishing with a 20-6 mark. He won 1 game in the 1955 World Series against the Dodgers. After injuring his pitching arm in an off-season job, Bob became a effective reliever for the Yankees in 1956 with 12 saves. He led the AL with 18 saves in 1957 and was named to 1957 AL All Star team. During the 1958 season, he was traded along with OF Harry Simpson to the A’s for Pitchers Duke Maas and Virgil Trucks.

1938 – Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig rejects the latest contract offer from the Yankees to a 1-year deal worth $39,000. Four days later, Gehrig will agree to the same Yankees offer and end his spring training holdout.
1939 - Former Yankees P and author Jim “Bull Dog” Bouton (1962-1968) was born in Newark NJ. Jim was the winning pitcher of the 22-inning game against the Tigers in 1962. In 1963, Jim went 21 –7. In 1964, he was 18-13 for the Yankees. He appeared in 2 World Series, 1963 and 1964, going 2-1, winning 2 against the Cardinals (1964), losing a 1-0, 4-hitter to the Dodgers Don Drysdale in 1963. He hurt his arm in 1965 and never was effective again for the Yankees. His Yankee career pitching record was 55-51. In October of 1968, he was sold to the Pilots. After his ML playing career was over, he wrote the best seller “Ball Four.” Also he worked as a TV sportscaster in New York City.
1947 - In the new Stadium del Cerro at Havana, Cuba, the Dodgers beat the Yankees by a score of 1-0.

1961 - Former Yankee C/DH/1B Mark Salas (1987) was born. On June 7, 1987, Mark was traded by the Twins to the Yankees for P Joe Niekro. Mark appeared in 50 games, hitting .200. On November 12, 1987, Mark was traded by the Yankees along with OF/1B Dan Pasqua and P Steve Rosenberg to the White Sox for pitchers Richard Dotson and Scott Nielsen.

1966 -The HOF Special Veterans Committee waives one of its election rules and selects former Mets Manager Casey Stengel as the newest member of the HOF. Stengel had managed the Mets for much of the 1965 NL season before falling and breaking his hip. The injury ended the elderly Stengel's career. Given his age, the Veterans Committee decides to make him immediately eligible for the HOF. Casey managed the Yankees from 1949-1960, winning 5 straight World Championships from 1949-1953. He also won World Championships in 1956 and 1958. Also he managed the Braves and Dodgers, before joining the Yanks in 1949.

1999 - HOF Yankee CF Joe DiMaggio (1936-1941, 1945-1951) dies of a lung cancer at age 84. Joe was born in Martinez, California; Joe DiMaggio arrived in the ML at the age of 21. He batted .323 in his 1st season and helped the Yankees to the 1936 World Championship. His rookie performance served as an indicator of future success, both for him and the Yankees. During his 13-year career, DiMaggio participated in 10 World Series, with his team winning the World Championship 9 times. In 1941, DiMaggio achieved his most famous MLB milestone when he compiled a record 56-game hitting streak. His lifetime Yankee BA was .326.

previous week

(as always I'd like to thank Clipper51 for his great contributions)

Shelley Discusses His Big Day

Quotes from MLB.com and Peter Abraham:

“In spring training most of the time, especially at the start, you don’t ever worry about the results. You worry about the process,” he said. “You want to get to the point where you’re comfortable and consistent every time."

"You don't make too much of it," Duncan said. "In the spring, you're going to have those feelings where you're locked in and it goes away real quick. I really think consistency is a big part. It's one thing you have to work on mentally, trying to repeat good at-bats and good swings."

"I'm trying to get to the point where I can be the player I know I can be," Duncan said. "I feel everything will play itself out from there. There's no reason to force it. I know what I'm capable of if I get to that level."

Shelley said he stayed away from his patented forearm smash because "there's too many people in the dugout, I'd get too tired."

ST Game 1: Yankees Vs. Phillies From Bright House Field

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES
Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Shelley Duncan 1B
Morgan Ensberg DH -------- CHANGE YOUR NUMBER!
Jose Molina C
Greg Porter LF
Chris Woodward 2B

Pitching
Chien-Ming Wang
Darrell Rasner
Chris Britton
Jon Albaladejo
Heath Phillips
Dan Giese
Ross Ohlendorf

PHILLIES
Jimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Pat Burrell DH
Geoff Jenkins RF
Greg Dobbs 3B
Chris Snelling LF
Carlos Ruiz C

Pitching
Adam Eaton
Chad Durbin
Clay Condrey
Ryan Madson
Tom Gordon

Lineups from Peter Abraham

Game Summary:

- The Yankees jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning on a 3-run home run by Shelley "Slam" Duncan. A-Rod and Abreu had both singled to get on base.

- Chien-Ming Wang breezed through his two innings of work. Giving up no runs on one hit, while striking out one.

- The Yankees extended their lead to 5-0 in the top of the 3rd on a 2-run double by Shelley Duncan off pitcher Chad Durbin. Jeter and Abreu scored. Duncan has knocked in all five Yankee runs.

- The Phillies cut the Yankees lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the 3rd with a two-out RBI single by Chase Utley off Yankees pitcher Darrell Rasner.

- Billy Traber pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the 4th for the Yankees.

- A-Rod crushes a solo HR into left in the top of the 5th off Clay Condrey to extend the Yankees lead to 6-1.

- Jeter, Rodriguez, and Abreu are done for the day. Chris Britton comes in to pitch (wow, he really did lose a lot of weight). Carlos Ruiz led off the bottom of the 5th with a double to left center, and then scored when Chris Woodward let a ground ball off the bat of Jimmy Rollins go through his legs -- E4. Britton got out of it, 6-2 Yankees after five.

- Montero (C), Betemit (1B), Jackson (CF), and Tabata (RF) come into the game for the Yankees in the bottom of the 6th. Heath Phillips comes on to pitch. Nice inning for Phillips, after a leadoff single by Ryan Howard he retired the side in order.

- Woodward leads off the top of the 7th with a single into right. Betemit followed with a pop up to deep second. Jason Lane singles, 1st and 2nd with one out for the Yanks. The Phils then retired Eduardo Nunez and Mark Vechinonacci to get out of the inning. 6-2 Yankees after six and a half.

- Eric Duncan now at first, Betemit moves over to 2nd, and Jonathan Albaladejo is the new pitcher for the Yanks in the bottom of the 7th. Albaladejo struck out the first batter he faced(Chris Snelling) with a very nice slider. He then struck out Jason Jaramillo on a sinking fastball, and got Casey Smith to fly out to deep left.

- Jose Tabata led off the for the Yankees in the top of the 8th and grounded out to second. Bernie Castro grounds to third, 2 away. The next batter Jesus Montero stepped in and slammed an opposite field HR - impressive shot - Yanks lead 7-2. Austin Jackson then flew out to deep center, three out.

- Dan Giese now pitching for the Yanks in the bottom of the 8th. He gave up a leadoff homer to center fielder Greg Golson, 7-3 Yankees. Giese then retired the next three in order, capped-off by a nice shoe-string grab by Austin Jackson to end the inning.

- Choke artist former Yankee Tom Gordon comes into pitch for the Phillies. Eric Duncan led off the inning with a line-drive single up the middle. Then Betemit launched one over the right field wall, 9-3 Yankees. Jason Lane strikes out, 1 down. Eduardo Nunez then popped one foul to So Taguchi, 2 away. Vechinonacci then drew a walked which chased Tom Gordon out of the game. Tabata then struck out to end the inning.

- Ross Ohlendorf came in for the bottom of the 9th, and retired the first two batters he faces. then gave up a single to Chris Snelling. Ohlendorf then retired the next batter on a ground out to end the game.

Ballgame over, Yankees win, thaaaaaaaaaa Yankees win!

FINAL: Yankees 9 - Phillies 3

Hitting Totals:

NY Yankees AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Gardner, B, CF 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 .333 Betemit, 1B-2B 2 1 1 2 0 0 1 .500 Jeter, SS 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 .500 Lane, RF-LF 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .500 Abreu, RF 3 2 2 0 0 1 1 .667 Nunez, E, SS 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 Rodriguez, A, 3B 3 2 2 1 0 1 2 .667 Vechionacci, 3B 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 .000 Duncan, 1B 3 1 2 5 0 0 0 .667 Tabata, J, RF 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 Ensberg, DH 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .000 a-Castro, B, PH-DH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Molina, C 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 Montero, C 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1.000 Porter, LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Jackson, A, CF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Woodward, 2B 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .667 Duncan, E, 1B 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000 Totals 39 9 14 9 2 8 13

Pitching Totals:

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Wang	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Rasner	1.0	2	1	1	2	0	0	9.00
Traber	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Britton	1.0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0.00
Phillips	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Albaladejo	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Giese	1.0	1	1	1	0	1	1	9.00
Ohlendorf	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

Red Sox Respond to Hank's Comments

From The Boston Globe:

Red Sox owner John Henry, responding by e-mail to Steinbrenner's comment, wrote: "A wise man once said, 'Don't poke the bear!' "

And Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino - no stranger to pie tossing with the Yankees - cackled when he heard the statement.

"I don't deny there are Yankee fans everywhere," said Lucchino. "But it's blind of him not to see the phenomenon that is Red Sox Nation. I expect he will become more aware of the passion and breadth of Red Sox Nation as long as he is actively involved in baseball. I do appreciate that he has picked up on the Star Wars metaphor, though. He said he was happy to be Darth Vader and we are happy to be the Rebel Alliance."

Is it just me, or are these Star Wars references becoming (or have always been) a bit lame?

The Boss's son got off to a rocking start a few weeks ago when he came to the defense of HGH-using Andy Pettitte, telling the New York Post, "I don't think they would want to be hollering too loud at Andy up in Fenway. They [the Red Sox] had plenty of players doing that stuff, too. It's just that those players weren't mentioned in the Mitchell Report. That's my biggest problem with the Mitchell Report . . . "

Hank's not-so-thinly-veiled remark is a broadside at the SS Red Sox, which still features the name of former Senator George Mitchell on the company masthead. Mitchell is listed as "director" of the Red Sox. His is the sixth name from the top, directly below Lucchino's. It's a hideous conflict, recklessly allowed by Mitchell, the Sox, and Selig. Hank, God bless him, wasn't afraid to call the Sox on it.

Lucchino was not amused when reminded of Hank's steroid scandal salvo.

"I don't think there's any point to be made reacting to comments of the Yankees that I thought were gratuitous and reckless accusations," said Lucchino.

OK Hank, it's your turn.

(tip of the cap to the newest member of the SNY sports-blog network, WasWatching.com)

The Media Actually Found Something Hank Doesn't Want to Talk About: Kei Igawa

From George A. King III:

March 1, 2008 -- TAMPA - Hank Steinbrenner was done talking about the wonderful pitching performance turned in by Generation Trey against USF yesterday at Legends Field when he was asked about Kei Igawa's miserable outing against the Big East school.

"Let's not bring that up," Steinbrenner said. "Hopefully we can straighten him out."

Igawa had this to say:

"My control was pretty good," said Igawa, oblivious to the walks and hit batter.

"What I would like to do is to get more control when I am throwing harder. Today, I felt like I was throwing too low."

Too low?!? Isn't that what everyone wanted Igawa to do: to keep the ball down? Maybe he meant his arm was too low in his delivery, who knows.