MLB FanHouse

Knicks Hope a Little of Joe Girardi's Success Rubs Off on Them

Josh Alper — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

Fun fact: Yankees manager Joe Girardi has as many wins in November as Giants coach Tom Coughlin, Jets coach Rex Ryan, Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and Nets coach Lawrence Frank combined. His loss total pales in comparison, however, which is probably why the Knicks invited him to Madison Square Garden to be honored during Sunday's ~~loss~~ game against the Celtics.

They're giving him the (quite possibly made up) Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton "City Spirit" Award, ostensibly because he stopped on his way home from winning the World Series to help the victim of a car accident flag down help from the police. It was a kind act, but it's not hard to imagine Knicks brass is desperate to liven up the grim Garden scene these days.

In Girardi's honor, Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni will coach in the style of the best braces-wearing manager this side of an eighth-grade fantasy team. He'll pull right-handed shooters between free throws to replace them with different right-handed shooters who don't have markedly better shooting percentages. He'll risk technical fouls to walk out to the court to talk things over with point guard Chris Duhon and he'll give big minutes to seldom-used forward Marcus Landry because Al Harrington is simply more comfortable throwing passes to him.

The image of Girardi on the Knicks floor won't just be about getting a cheap cheer amid a season of unrestrained losing, it will also offer a bit of a rebuke to those who think you can simply buy championships in sports. The Yankees are often accused of doing that, no matter how many other teams won titles between 2000 and 2009, while the Knicks have long had one of basketball's largest payrolls.

What's all that money gotten them? Four playoff games, all losses, in the last eight years. Clearly money isn't the only ingredient to success in sports.

Knicks Hope a Little of Joe Girardi's Success Rubs Off on Them originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Scouting Notes: Braves Shopping Pair of Arms, and Both Could Be Bargains

Frankie Piliere — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:58:00 EST

Filed under: Braves, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB Inside Scoop, Scout's Eye View

On the free-agent market, all the focus has been on John Lackey. On the trade market, the talk has been about Roy Halladay. The consolation prize for teams seeking a top-flight arm may come out of Atlanta.

The Braves have two of their top starters on the block, Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez, and there's little doubt that at least one of those two pitchers will be moved, according to multiple major league sources. With strong resumes for both, there should be teams lined up for their services.

One source said that the Braves intend to move one of the two pitchers, and who goes will depend on the offers they receive.

Trading for Halladay could take a king's ransom, and Lackey will demand a huge financial commitment. With that in mind, and one of these pitchers clearly on the block, how might the market be impacted, what do each of these Braves hurlers bring to the table and what might it take to get them?

Lowe is more likely depart and would certainly come cheaper than Vazquez, but the Braves won't get nearly the same return for the former as they would the latter. Atlanta could use the contract relief that would come with dealing Lowe, who has three years and around $45 million left on his contract.

Count the Yankees and Mets as possible destinations for Lowe. Would the Yankees go down the Vazquez road again? It seems unlikely, and given his National League success, he might be best served to stay there. Either way, Vazquez' desirability is the reason Atlanta is more likely to try and hold onto him. After all, he's cheaper, younger, and had a fantastic 2009.

Any suitors for Lowe will have to be financially flexible, and that rules out quite a few teams. Not many clubs would give up players and also pay the $45 million left on his contract. For example, the Texas Rangers, who have also been linked to Vazquez and are looking for pitching help, will not be in on either of these two pitchers because of the money each is making. Other than the Yankees, who figure to lead the charge here, the Angels, who have money coming off the books, will likely explore both pitchers. Whether the Braves would trade within the division to the Mets remains to be seen, but they would be a logical destination otherwise.

Although it will take a financial commitment, Vazquez and Lowe are not going to command a haul of prospects that someone like Halladay would. If Halladay isn't moved, one could make the argument that either Vazquez or Lowe would be the best pitcher available this winter.

While his 4.67 ERA in 2009 doesn't look all the glamorous, Lowe was much better than that ERA would indicate and has been a model of consistency since 2003. Minus a few bad starts near the end of the season, Lowe was as good as ever this year. Don't expect teams to be any less impressed with Lowe than they were when he was free agent last offseason

And then there is Vazquez. He likely won't win the Cy Young Award, announced Thursday, but he was a legitimate contender for the hardware in 2009. He mixed his pitches better this season than he ever has in the past, and his walk numbers were way down from 2008. While some scouts may doubt that he can repeat his fantastic 2009 performance, he has been a consistent innings-eater with good strikeout numbers for many years now.

So what can we expect? Finding a home for Derek Lowe's big contract won't be easy, but it appears that he's the one in this pair that Atlanta would prefer to jettison. Vazquez, on the other hand, will draw much more widespread interest, with only a year remaining on his contract and his impressive performance this past season.

In the end, bet on Lowe getting dealt, with the destination being one of the big-market clubs that showed interest in him when he was a free agent. Expect the Yankees to be heavily involved, especially if money is more the issue at hand than the players that Atlanta gets in return.

Quick Hits

o. It's looking more and more like the Aroldis Chapman sweepstakes will be a two-team race. Mid-market teams do not expect to be involved in the bidding, according to sources with several different teams, leaving the Yankees and Red Sox poised to battle it out for the Cuban left-hander's services.

o. As the market takes shape, Rafael Soriano has been placed on the top of many wish lists. Few relievers warrant premium free-agent money, but most agree that Soriano is one of those guys. It looks like he'll hit the big money on the open market and Mike Gonzalez could be the one that remains in Atlanta. Soriano has, for many years now, drawn high praise from scouts for his outstanding pure stuff, and it looks like he'll get compensated like a closer with that type of stuff now.

Frankie Piliere spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers in 2009. He now serves as the National Baseball Analyst here at FanHouse.

Scouting Notes: Braves Shopping Pair of Arms, and Both Could Be Bargains originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Chamberlain Doesn't Know '10 Role Yet

Andrew Johnson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:24:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, FanHouse Exclusive

The Yankees haven't told Joba Chamberlain whether he'll be a starter or reliever next year, but the right-hander says he'll be ready to do anything to help his team repeat as World Series champions when he reports to spring training in February.

"We haven't talked about [my role for next year]," Chamberlain told FanHouse this week, in an interview promoting his charity work with New York foster children."It's not going to affect my preparation [for the season] at all. ... I'm gonna go out and work hard and get in the best shape I can to help us win again."

Chamberlain, who burst onto the scene in 2007 as an electrifying setup man, has shuffled back and forth between the bullpen and rotation as the Yankees have tried to manage his innings and find the best role for him. All but one of his 32 regular season appearances in 2009 came as a starter, but once October rolled around, he was converted to relief, both because he struggled some down the stretch and because the schedule allowed the Yankees to use just three starters throughout the postseason.

Chamberlain's ever-changing role on New York's pitching staff has become one of baseball's most heated water-cooler debates, but it also seems to have taken a toll, even if it's just a slight one, on the man in the middle of it all.

"Sometimes it gets frustrating. I'd be lying to you if I didn't say it didn't, but as a competitor you just try to get out there and help your teammates any way you can," Chamberlain said.

Of course, winning a championship as the Yankees did just a few weeks ago, has a way of making all of the drama about his role seem a bit silly.

"This is the greatest organization in baseball and just to have the opportunity to do a lot of different things for this organization has been awesome," Chamberlain said.

"The experience as a whole [this year] was tremendous," he added. "The World Series topped it off, but just being with those guys all year ... it was a fun year."

And now, Chamberlain has turned his attention to helping New Yorkers for Children, an organization that works with foster children in New York City. He will host a "Wrap to Rap" event on Thursday afternoon in Manhattan, in which teenagers in foster care will wrap more than 1,500 donated Christmas presents for younger children also in foster care.

"Growing up, my dad (Harlan) was in foster care," Chamberlain said. "This was something that I've seen first-hand. You know, we have friends that take care of foster kids. There are 17,000 foster kids in New York City, and being able to ... put some smiles on some faces and having an opportunity to give back is really nice."

After the event Thursday, Chamberlain said he plans to take the rest of the week off before beginning his preparations for 2010.

"I'll kind of get into [training] gradually, and then around the second week of December, I'll start to hit it real hard," he said. "Spring training isn't really that far away, you know.

"It's right around the corner."

Chamberlain Doesn't Know '10 Role Yet originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Footprints in the Snow: Yankees

Josh Alper — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, AL East

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.

When you're the Yankees, the only acceptable end to a season is one that ends with a dogpile on the pitcher's mound and a champagne-soaked locker room. The 2009 season had quite an acceptable ending, then, although it isn't one they'll be able to celebrate for too long.

The nature of expecting a championship every year is that the work toward building the next champion begins before Broadway is cleared of confetti. This year's decisions will revolve around a trio of aging stars from the title squad as well as figuring out how they'll use their leverage as baseball's richest team to improve themselves for run at a 28th title.

As always, the latter means that you'll be seeing a lot of Mad Lib headlines with "The Yankees are interested in _______," and, as always, just about any one of them could wind up being true.

More Footprints in the Snow

Who Might Leave

Johnny Damon, OF; Jerry Hairston Jr., UT; Eric Hinske, UT; Hideki Matsui, DH; Jose Molina, C; Xavier Nady, OF; Andy Pettitte, SP

Shopping List

We'll start with their own guys, since there are some big decisions to make. It's safe to assume that Pettitte will be back unless he decides to stay home with his family. He was strong all season for the Yankees and would likely continue to provide solid work behind CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett for at least another season.

Damon and Matsui are trickier propositions. Matsui, the World Series MVP, had a terrific second half and postseason, but his balky knees mean that he can't play the field. For a team that's got a lot of older players, Jorge Posada in particular, opening that spot for a rotating cast taking days off from the field is an intriguing possibility. There's no reason Matsui couldn't be part of that mix, though, especially if he'll take a relatively inexpensive one-year deal.

Over the last four years, Damon proved to be a great signing for the Yankees. His lefty swing was made for Yankee Stadium, producing enough power that the fact that he can't play center field anymore wasn't a problem. The issue here is going to come down to two different years. Damon just turned 36 and there have been mixed signals about how long a contract he's looking for this offseason. The Yankees have a general need to get younger -- their performance this season defied notions about older teams -- and they might see 29-year-old Matt Holliday as a better option for the future.

Even if Pettitte returns, the Yankees could look to add another starting pitcher. There are still more questions than answers about Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes when it comes to their roles on the team. John Lackey is the best starter on the market, but the Yankees may pass on that big-ticket item to hold their cards for a run at Josh Beckett, Cliff Lee or Roy Halladay a year from now. Or they may sign Lackey and make the same run next year.

It would be surprising, but not shocking, to see the Yankees try to swing a deal for a center fielder who is an upgrade from Melky Cabrera. If they re-sign Damon, that would probably become a more likely scenario. Molina will probably be leaving with Francisco Cervelli moving up to a backup role with the big-league club and you can expect they'll add a reliever or two to a mix that looked shaky at points in the postseason.

Money Matters

Cabrera is in line for a healthy raise after regaining his starting spot and salvaging his floundering career this summer. If the Yankees don't make an outside move, they'd probably be fine with the solid defense and occasional pop Cabrera provides, especially since they also have the speedy Brett Gardner in reserve.

Brian Bruney and Chad Gaudin are both eligible for arbitration, and each of them did enough to earn an invitation back for another chance at rounding out Mariano Rivera's Merry Men. The ongoing drama with Chamberlain and Hughes means that the Yankees will need to have a variety of options in relief.

Look for the Yankees to non-tender Chien Ming-Wang after two seasons plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness. It would be surprising if they didn't try to bring him back under some kind of a lesser contract, however. The drama mentioned in the bullpen will affect the rotation as well, and this was a team that only had three reliable starters in October.

There probably won't be much activity on the extension front, although Derek Jeter's contract is up after the 2010 season. Both sides are fine with waiting to come up with what will likely be the Captain's final deal because neither one is operating under any kind of illusion that he's going anywhere.

Offseason Goals

Like we said up top, the offseason goal in the Bronx is the same as it ever was: Build the best team in baseball through any and all of the available routes. Brian Cashman has said that the team hopes to get younger and more athletic, which are both good ideas, but it would be foolish to think that they'll do those things at the expense of remaining one of the top contenders for a World Series crown.

Footprints in the Snow: Yankees originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Deep Farm Gives Yanks Plenty of Chips

Frankie Piliere — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, Prospects, Scout's Eye View

Prospects exist to help their team fortify their future, be it years down the road, or, in some cases, the not-so-distant future. These prospects can become valuable chips in blockbuster trades. Each team with a player on the block this offseason will come to the negotiating table with stacks of detailed scouting information on the prospects of buyers out there like the New York Yankees.

So, what should teams like the Blue Jays, Tigers or any other club rumored to be in talks with the Yankees be looking to get in return? We'll take a look from a scouting perspective at just what potential trade partners should be looking for as they sift through the crop of New York prospects, with a focus on some who may be flying under the radar.

The Untouchables

Jesus Montero, C -- Some scouts make the argument that Montero is the best hitting prospect in the minor leagues. That's debatable, but at the catching position, which I believe he can stick at, few players are as valuable. You just don't find too many bats as potent as his behind the dish. He's shown offensive skills reminiscent of Miguel Cabrera on his way up. It would likely take a blockbuster-type deal to pry him away but this is the guy you want for your team if you are dealing a star to New York.

Austin Jackson, OF -- Given his rather quick growth as an all-around star prospect, it's easy to forget that many worried coming out of the draft that Jackson was a raw athlete and wouldn't develop as a complete ballplayer. It's been his ability to hit consistent line drives and keep his swing under control at such an early stage that makes him special. The athletic tools, plus speed and defense in center field were more of a given. The fact that he is still continuing to grow as a hitter is what makes him such an interesting commodity.

High-Risk Talents

Andrew Brackman, RHP -- At this time last year it wouldn't have been unreasonable to believe that Brackman, pictured right, would be among potential untouchables, but as 2009 unfolded it was clear that he would face all the roadblocks that a near 7-foot pitcher coming off arm surgery could. To say he struggled mightily with his command is an understatement as his walk totals were off the charts. What was more concerning, however, was the fluctuation in his raw stuff. While reports were more positive when he worked as a reliever later in the year, there were times when his stuff was close to pedestrian.

In my opportunities to evaluate the towering right-hander, I saw a pitcher who appeared tentative at times to let his fastball go as he lived around 89-92 mph. He was still able to produce some good downward sink on the fastball, and use his height, but the raw velocity was just not there. Also mixed in was a downer curveball at 71-75 mph with plus potential. The command, on the other hand, was erratic at best. There is definitely a lack of comfort with his mechanics and the big question is whether he will ever develop that feel and consistency enough to be a dependable big-league pitcher. If he does, the stuff can be brilliant, but what I got a glimpse of was the ugly side of Brackman and that needs to be taken into account.

Sleepers

Manny Banuelos, LHP -- You could make the argument that Banuelos doesn't completely qualify as a sleeper, but it's about time the baseball world was fully aware just how talented this 18-year-old lefty actually is. He doesn't have the size at 5-foot-10 and he doesn't throw 97 mph, but the total package and maturity is something to behold. Sitting at 90-92 mph, reaching 94 mph at times, Banuelos works through a lineup with very little effort. And, with some further physical maturity, it's not unreasonable to think he could pick up a little more velocity.

Despite his good lively fastball from the left side, that's not what makes him so intriguing. It is his pitching aptitude and uncanny feel for the game. He is the owner of two above-average secondary pitches, the changeup and the curveball. There's a debate among scouts as to which is a better offering. He appeared to be more consistently comfortable with the changeup at 76-80 mph, but he also showed command for the 11-5 breaking ball at 72-74 mph.

The stuff is above average, but when you consider the advanced feel he has for pitching and the often pinpoint command he possesses it's amazing that he's still only 18. He pitches with such ease and attacks hitters with such a calm demeanor, that he can be a front-of-the-rotation pitcher in the majors a few years from now. If you're trading with New York and looking for its most complete pitching prospect, look no further than Banuelos.

Hector Noesi, RHP -- He does not have the gifts or feel for pitching that Banuelos has, but that is certainly no insult. Noesi is the type of prospect that shows up in deals quite frequently. He's a little older than you'd like for a pitcher below Double-A, but has the stuff of a No. 3 big-league starter. Another reason you may not know much about Noesi is because in 2008 he was much shorter in his arsenal than he is today.

When I had the chance to see him then, he was pitcher severely lacking in secondary pitches despite his good velocity and fastball command. This year was a much different story. He displayed downright dominance at times, especially in his stint with at low Single-A Charleston (S.C.). Maybe most impressive of all was his stamina; his stuff would sometimes improve as his pitch count mounted. Although he still likes to mostly to work of his well spotted 90-94 mph fastball, this year there was the curveball as well. With good 12-6 action, the curveball came out whenever Noesi seemed to need it this year. He had a feel for just how much to mix it in and varied the speeds from 72-76 mph. With a second pitch that now shows flashes of being plus, and an occasional changeup mixed in, Noesi showed tremendous growth in 2009 and became a complete pitcher. He could be a guy that continues to emerge in a hurry and may not be far off from the big leagues.

Of course, this is just a glimpse of a number of valuable prospects the Yankees have to offer if they want to net a coveted player in a trade. New York has developed a very deep system, and has situated itself to pull off a blockbuster trade. Whether it's Curtis Granderson or Roy Halladay or someone else, the Yankees can entice the owners of these stars with the strong crop of prospects they have to offer. Whether they do so remains to be seen, but having the ability to pull off such a deal off is clearly not a concern.

Frankie Piliere spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers in 2009. He now serves as the National Baseball Analyst here at FanHouse.

Deep Farm Gives Yanks Plenty of Chips originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

The Death of the Jeter-A-Rod Debate

Matt Snyder — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, AL East, MLB Fans

From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday. It has returned from a playoffs-induced hiatus.

Though I'll admit I was rooting for the Yankees to win the World Series last week, a part of me was sad that Alex Rodriguez would get a World Series ring. No, I don't hate A-Rod, nor do I wish anything bad on him. I'm not one of those "haters."

This was selfish. My friends and I had now lost a main component of a storied -- and heated, at times -- bar debate. If you were starting a major league team and had the choice between the two, would you rather have A-Rod or Derek Jeter?

You see, about five years ago, my friends and I spent countless hours on sports debates that centered around individual players. Unless there were personal biases, there were two squarely divided camps -- the stat camp and the "winner" camp. When this all started, the stat camp, of course, sided with Alex Rodriguez, while the "winner" camp loved Jeter.

The stat guys would argue that winning is the product of an entire team, not just one individual. Thus, you'd want to start your team with the best player. Look at the numbers Rodriguez was putting up. You'd be crazy to suggest Jeter would be a better centerpiece to a potential championship team.

Rodriguez has won three MVPs. He's hit 583 career home runs and sports a career .965 OPS. He won two gold gloves at shortstop before being forced to move to third base, where he's also a solid defensive player. He can steal bases, with 297 in his career. If not for Albert Pujols, we'd pretty universally accept A-Rod as the best player in baseball, right? So, obviously, you should choose A-Rod over Jeter.

Then, the opposition would break into all sorts of cliches, such as, "gimme the proven winner," or "stats don't win championships," or "Jeter does the little things that don't show up in the box score." You'd hear things like "just gets the job done when it matters," "clutch" and "intangibles." Playoff failures of Rodriguez would be brought up and never let go.

Remember, Captain Jeter has four World Series rings. A-Rod's arrival in New York coincided with the Yankees' ALCS loss to the Red Sox. Does anyone else make plays running across the diamond and flipping across his body? Does anyone else catch balls while diving into the crowd and bloodying his nose? And he elevates his game in the playoffs because he's a winner. That's just who he is.

This drives the stat guys crazy. How can you measure this crap? There's no such thing as clutch; it's simply a haphazard coincidence when guys come through in big spots, they'd say. Plus, everything is still dependent upon teammates. Was it A-Rod's fault his teams weren't near as good as the dynasty Yankees? You build your team around the best player, not the most fortunate player, and it's still a team.

A funny aside here is that we also had a heated NFL debate at the time: Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. And it was parallel in that Brady was the Jeter-like winner with intangibles and rings, while Manning was the stat-hound who hadn't won the big one.

Then, a few circumstances crippled the argument. Manning's Colts won the 2006 season's Super Bowl. In the Colts' four playoff victories, three of the games were, dare I say, vintage Brady. Manning stayed out of the way and let his defense and running game win it. He had won the big one. No longer could we hold the "winner" argument against him.

Next season, Brady shattered several NFL records en route to an undefeated regular season. His team then lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl. It was, dare I say, vintage Manning (pre-2006, of course).

The proverbial wind had been taken out of the sails of a classic sports bar debate. Sure, you can still argue who you'd rather have, but it's not near as fun when both guys have resumes with so few holes. If you can't berate the friend with whom you are arguing, it's not even fun anymore.

At least we still have the Jeter-A-Rod debate.

Sigh.

This isn't just as simple as A-Rod having a ring now, though. It was a total 180. What did you always hear about Alex Rodriguez? He might have the numbers, but he doesn't come through when it matters. He's not clutch. He'll hit into a rally-killing double play in a big spot before he'll ever knock in a game-winner.

What did you always hear about Jeter? He may not have the numbers, but he gets it done when it matters. He never hurts his team. He's a winner.

The results of the postseason illustrate this seismic shift.

Jeter hit .407 with a .947 OPS in the World Series. He got some hits that mattered, of course, but the biggest plate appearance that stands out in my mind was his rally-killing double play in the ninth inning of Game 5. In a shutteringly ironic moment, most people watching that game will probably tell you they had this thought after Jeter's at-bat: "If they get to A-Rod, the Yankees will win." Um, what? If only 2004 could see A-Rod now. And Jeter was the one who hit into the double play. Jeter was, dare I say, vintage A-Rod.

A-Rod had a 1.500-plus OPS through the first two rounds, but hit just .250 in the World Series. Of course, he managed to drive home six runs and score five times in six games. He walked three times and got hit by pitch another three times. He also came through in a huge way in the most pivotal game of the series. With two outs in the top of the ninth and a 4-4 tie in Game 4, Rodriguez delivered a rocket to the left field wall. It was an eventual game-winning two-run double (Jeter had struck out earlier in the inning, by the way). A-Rod had entered the at-bat 0-for-3 on the game (sounds like he didn't have the numbers but came through when it mattered, no? That's what winners do!). A-Rod was, dare I say, vintage Jeter.

Remember, this was also a season in which A-Rod's return to the lineup did wonders for Mark Teixeira in terms of protection (intangibles?) and Jeter hit .334 at age 35 while breaking the Yankees' career hits record -- formerly held by Lou Gehrig (stats?). Jeter also sported the second-highest OPS+ of his career and completely reversed the trend of being a sabermetrically inferior defensive shortstop.

All things considered, this has been the unraveling of Brady vs. Manning all over again.

Sure, we can still argue, but it's no fun when the other side of the argument can say, "well, I agree with you on that, but ... " Obviously, both players are great (future Hall of Famers, in fact) and any team would be lucky to have either, but it's no fun to discuss sports without having arguments like this.

There's no room for agreement in a sports bar argument. None. I guess we'll have to find a new topic.

By the way, I was always squarely in the A-Rod (and Manning) camp. I'd just rather have the best players than having to count on some sort of "intangible" that can't really be quantified.

So, to my friends who disagreed: Told ya A-Rod would eventually win. I'm happy to be vindicated, but sad the once-heated debate has lost its luster.

The Death of the Jeter-A-Rod Debate originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Money Worries Could Force Reds to Move All-Star Phillips, Others

Ed Price — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:48:00 EST

Filed under: Angels, Blue Jays, Giants, Nationals, Red Sox, Reds, Tigers, Yankees, MLB Inside Scoop

Editor's Note: FanHouse's Jeff Fletcher contributed to this report

CHICAGO -- The Reds' need to slash payroll, according to a major league source, could lead them to explore trading second baseman Brandon Phillips as well as right-handers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang.

Cincinnati's 2009 payroll was about $71 million. General manager Walt Jocketty said during a break Tuesday at the GM Meetings that he "might" have to move some high-salaried players to meet the 2010 goal.

"We're going to probably have less to spend this year than we have in the past," Jocketty told FanHouse. "It just depends on how [ticket] sales go this offseason."

Boras: Holliday Can Play in Either League

Cincinnati's total attendance fell from 2.06 million in 2008 to 1.75 million this year, a drop of more than 15 percent.

The source above said the Reds plan to cut back to $65-70 million, which is a challenge in part because of raises due Harang ($11 million to $12.5 million), Arroyo (from $9.5 million to $11 million) and Phillips (from $4.75 million to $5 million).

With their salaries and so-so 2009 seasons, the pitchers would be hard to trade without the Reds taking on some of their pay. So Cincinnati's best bet could be finding a taker for Phillips, who last season hit .276 with 30 doubles, 20 homers, 98 RBI and 25 stolen bases.

The source said the Reds would prefer to keep closer Francisco Cordero, who has two years and $25 million left on his deal. They also need a shortstop and a catcher and have a decision to make at first base, where Joey Votto hit .322 but prospect Yonder Alonso (.838 OPS in the minors last season) seems close to being ready.

o. In a 180-degree turn from predecessor J.P. Ricciardi, new Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos declined any comment on whether he will trade ace Roy Halladay. But baseball sources expect that to happen this winter, with one GM predicting the Dodgers as a landing spot.

o. Detroit is probably content to let second baseman Placido Polanco sign elsewhere as a free agent and replace him with prospect Scott Sizemore, who by spring training is expected to be recovered by from a broken ankle suffered in the Arizona Fall League. It would seem to make sense for the Tigers to re-sign shortstop Adam Everett, a defensive specialist who could help a rookie double-play partner.

o. Washington should name its manager by the end of the week. A source confirmed the FOXSports.com report that Jim Riggleman, who finished out the 2009 season as interim manager, and Bobby Valentine are the finalists. One major league source said the decision will be based on who can help the team develop -- rather than public personality -- which seems to point to Riggleman.

Once that is settled, the Nats may target a veteran starting pitcher to top off and mentor their young rotation. Jon Garland and Randy Wolf are free agents who fit the profile.

Washington seems committed to Adam Dunn at first base with an outfield of Josh Willingham, Nyjer Morgan and Elijah Dukes. And Ian Desmond (.280 as a September call-up) will get a chance to be the everyday shortstop.

o. One official from another team expects the Red Sox to trade for a left fielder to replace Jason Bay, in part because they see Bay's rough two-month stretch from late June to late August -- .214 average with 59 strikeouts in 168 at-bats -- as a red flag. But another major league source said Boston is still engaged with Bay, a free agent. The Giants, in dire need of offense, could also get involved with the slugger.

"Chronological age does not have anything to do with a player of his genetics."
-- Scott Boras on client and free agent Johnny Damon San Francisco general manager Brian Sabean said his team won't be used as a pawn in a bidding war.

"You've got to be realistic," Sabean said. "Do they really want to come to San Francisco versus the people they are going to be talking to, including their own teams? We'll gauge in that way. People who are interested in San Francisco sincerely, we'll be interested in. Are we going to chase people we have no chance of signing?"

The Giants may have a tough time convincing a slugger to play in San Francisco because AT&T Park is so pitcher-friendly.

"If you can hit, you can hit," Sabean said. "The ballpark shouldn't bother you."

o. Johnny Damon just turned 36, but, as you'd expect, that's not going to deter Scott Boras from seeking as long a contract as he can get.

"The thing I'll say about Johnny is his durability is off the charts," Boras said. "It's like when I had Maddux on the market at age 37 and he got a four-year deal. Johnny Damon is at the point he's played 12 years and played 140-plus games and put up this remarkable career. Then you are talking about Pete Rose and all those players who went on to play till they were 40 at very high levels. Chronological age does not have anything to do with a player of his genetics."

Boras also said that Damon would not necessarily want to wait until he goes on the open market to re-sign with the Yankees, even though he conceded that it is customary for Boras clients to test the waters.

"If there is a deal that comes across the table that Johnny is happy with, I'm sure he'd sign quickly," Boras said.

o. The Angels have started a dialogue with all of their free agents, including the two big ones, John Lackey and Chone Figgins. General manager Tony Reagins said it's too early to tell how those negotations will go.

He said neither player has closed the door on re-signing with the Angels before the end of the 15-day exclusive negotiating window.

o. After the main portion of the GM Meetings on Tuesday morning, there was a second meeting just for the assistant GMs. Essentially, that's the meeting where they discuss topics so mundane that MLB officials know that the GMs would leave if they were invited.

"We spent 20 minutes talking about urine samples," one assistant GM said.

Money Worries Could Force Reds to Move All-Star Phillips, Others originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Boras: Holliday Can Play in Both Leagues

Jeff Fletcher — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:02:00 EST

Filed under: Cardinals, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB Inside Scoop

CHICAGO -- Matt Holliday's performance in Oakland last year might have given some American League general managers a reason to be reluctant before ponying up the big bucks for him, but Scott Boras is ready with the answers.

Of course, Holliday's agent has to take that approach, because the two biggest suitors on the market -- the Yankees and Red Sox -- play in the American League.

Boras said the slow start had less to do with Oakland or the American League than it did with Holliday's own swing.

"Really, it was about Matt's hitting mechanics," Boras said. "He made some adjustments in the offseason. After about the first five weeks of the season, he went back to his normal stance. If you look at numbers from that point on, his slugging and OPS was at the same level he was at in the National League."

Sure enough, starting on May 5, Holliday hit .330 with 22 homers and a .961 OPS over his final 134 games, a stretch was just about evenly split between the A's and Cardinals. (By the way, it should be noted here that one of the sources of Holliday's revamped swing last winter was Mark McGwire, who was recently hired as the Cardinals' hitting coach.)

Boras used the phrase "franchise player" repeatedly in describing Holliday, comparing him to Mark Teixeira, who signed last year for $180 million, and practically said the Yankees got a bargain with the Teixeira deal.

"Last year we had one club that went and made a commitment to a franchise player and they won a world championship," Boras said. "They had an infrastructure and made the right decision and it turned out to be the right decision baseball-wise and economically. I think Matt Hollliday is another player like that in this marketplace."

What Boras didn't say is that Teixeira had proven himself in both leagues, is a premium defensive player at a more important position and is a switch-hitter.

Boras said he's been meeting with as many teams as possible during the GM Meetings in Chicago. The Cardinals, the only team that can talk dollars with Holliday before Nov. 20, have been one of them. Boras wouldn't close the door on a return to St. Louis. He said that realistically, if there turn out to be five serious bidders for Holliday, that would be a good number.

When asked what Holliday wants out of a team, other than the most money, Boras said he wants to play for a winner.

"If you talk about these long-term contracts, you don't want to get stuck in a place where you can't win annually," Boras said. "That's an important part for a free agent that's a franchise player. You want to make sure the owner is not only committed today, but committed longt-erm."

Boras: Holliday Can Play in Both Leagues originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Yankees Not Close to Making Moves, Including With Matsui

Ed Price — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:36:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, MLB Transactions, MLB Inside Scoop

CHICAGO -- The confetti from their championship parade not fully cleaned up, the Yankees are not yet prepared to address their offseason moves.

"I don't see anything happening here in Chicago," general manager Brian Cashman said Monday after checking in to the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport for baseball's GM Meetings. "I have the feeling we'll be a little bit more cautious than anxious."

And Cashman made it clear that just because Hideki Matsui was MVP of the World Series does not make it more important for the Yankees to keep him. In fact, the Yankees probably prefer not to have a player who can only DH, as seems to be the case with Matsui because of his knee problems.

FanHouse's World Series Coverage

"Over the last few years," Cashman said, "we've tried to improve how we go about decision-making. Part of that is sample size.

"He's a great player. I know exactly what type of player he is. Whether he performed well in the World Series or not doesn't change what type of player he is."

Cashman said he doubts the Yankees could re-sign any of their top free agents -- Matsui, Johnny Damon and Andy Pettitte -- before Nov. 20, when players can begin negotiating salary and signing with other teams. Cashman said he has not started discussions on contracts with any players.

Instead, Cashman wants to gauge other teams' positions and meet with his pro scouts and ownership before setting a game plan for the winter.

"We'll be in catch-up mode," Cashman said. "We have not had any internal discussions. ... There's been no movement in terms of business. I really want to make sure I take our time -- sit down, have discussions with all our personnel."

Yankees Not Close to Making Moves, Including With Matsui originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Yankees Win the Best Thing for MLB

Terence Moore — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:40:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, World Series

NEW YORK -- Oh, it was a loaded question, all right. The guy that I expected to answer was Bud Selig, whose role as baseball commissioner expands beyond the new sacred walls in the Bronx that feature the plaques of Yankee greats.

I asked the question anyway.

Given the mystique of pinstripes, television ratings that soar toward the farthest black hole at the sight of the interlocking "NY" in white against blue caps, baseball rock stars Derek Jeter, A-Rod, Mariano Rivera and the rest -- I mean, doesn't it help the entire game whenever the Yankees win it all?

Well, it does. Nobody cares about the Tampa Bay Rays in October or November, for instance, except those with too much time on their hands around the Skyview Bridge over the Gulf of Mexico. The world is dominated by Yankee lovers, Yankee haters and few in-between, and everybody knows it.

Instead, after hearing my question, Selig did what he had to do. He changed the subject involving the significance of the Yankees' slide past the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium in Game 6 on Wednesday night for a 27th world championship.

"This is a year that I guess I'll never forget, given the fact that the economics of the sport were so difficult and because of the environment that we live in, and I said in July (at the All-Star Game) that this was our greatest year, and to have a postseason like that to finish it off, is just remarkable," said Selig, straight-faced, daring me to rephrase my original question, and I didn't. I got the message: the commissioner preferred not to discuss the truth about the Yankees, because he really couldn't.

Since baseball commissioners are into the phrase "politically correct" as much as "in the best interest of baseball," Selig is going to perpetrate the myth that the game is better when the Rays do what they did last season. That is, the Rays bored much of the nation after they sprinted out of nowhere with their slew of no names to take the American League pennant over the famous Yankees.

For verification of the "Who cares?" factor regarding the Rays, you nearly had remotes clicking away from the World Series last season at a record pace.

It isn't just the Rays. Nationally and internationally, nobody wants to see the Colorado Rockies on the verge of a world championship. The same goes for the Houston Astros and the Arizona Diamondbacks, both among the many teams to scare the daylights out of the networks and the rest of us by reaching a World Series since 2000 -- the last time the Yankees won one before this one.

Worse, during that stretch, the Florida Marlins captured a second world championship as a wild card, and they shocked the Yankees in the 2003 World Series. Not even those in Miami care about the Marlins, because they've finished last or next-to-last in baseball attendance after each season for the past 12 years.

You also had the Chicago White Sox taking the 2005 World Series, and they have zero national appeal. In fact, baseball fans in their own city care more about the guys on the north side. Plus, you had the 2002 world champs who were so confused about their lack of notoriety that they didn't know what to call themselves. They still don't know. They are the Los Angeles Angels now, but they were the Anaheim Angels back then, and they were the California Angels before that.

I know. Courtesy of the Boston Red Sox exorcising their curse during the past nine years with two world championships, they have their little Nation in response to the bigger Yankee Nation. But this Red Sox thing is fleeting. Elsewhere, more than a few people in Philadelphia (and I stress in Philadelphia) were pleased that the Phillies spent last season grabbing their first world championship in 28 years, and the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals thrilled their large and loyal fan base with their world championship.

You may yawn now.

It's all about the Yankees.

And the Yankees are all about the Steinbrenner kids continuing as splendid clones of their father -- George. He's the ailing Boss these days at 79, but to hear Yankees general manager Brian Cashman tell it, none of that matters. After all, George's sons Hal and Hank are in charge of a franchise that just collected its seventh world championship since the Boss bought the Yankees in 1973.

"I think this probably is the proudest moment of George's career, because not only has he secured another world championship, but his sons are the ones who delivered it," said Cashman, who fudged a bit with his statement. Courtesy of the $209 million that the Steinbrenner sons allowed Cashman to spend for the Yankees' current payroll, Cashman is the one who "delivered it."

"I think this probably is the proudest moment of George's career, because not only has he secured another world championship, but his sons are the ones who delivered it."
-- Yankees GM
Brian Cashman Among others, Cashman acquired CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett and Nick Swisher, all key to pushing the Yankees toward a baseball-leading 103 victories during the regular season and this world championship.

Hank Steinbrenner smiled while reflecting on his father who attended Game 2, mostly in seclusion. The Boss was back home in Tampa when Robinson Cano tossed to Teixeira in the ninth inning for Wednesday night's final out.

"We all talked to him, very briefly," said Hank, referring to Hal, as well as their sister, Jennifer, who also is part of the Yankee hierarchy. "He was fine, he said. And he always says the same types of things. You know, when Mo (Mariano Rivera) is in the game pitching, he'll say, 'Oh, he's something, isn't he?' Or he'll say the same thing about (Derek) Jeter, or he'll say the same thing about A-Rod, Andy.

"I mean, he's very proud of all of them, right on down the line. But at the end, it was just emotion on his part."

Just like the emotion of joy or of hatred generated everywhere by another Yankees world championship, which is splendid for baseball.

Whether Selig says so or not.

Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.

Yankees Win the Best Thing for MLB originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Joe Girardi: World Series Champion Manager and Good Samaritan

Matt Snyder — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, AL East, World Series

As if managing the New York Yankees to their historic 27th World Series championship wasn't enough work for one night, Joe Girardi decided to do some more good on his way home from the new-and-improved Yankee Stadium. This time his work came in the form of humanitarian, not just filling out a lineup card full of baseball players for the entertainment of millions.

At about 2:25 AM Thursday morning, a woman named Marie Henry lost control of her vehicle on the Cross County Parkway in Eastchester, New York and crashed into a wall. Not only did Girardi stop to check on her well-being, but he also flagged down the police.

"He was jumping up and down, trying to flag me down," [officer Kathleen Cristiano] said. "You don't expect him standing by a car accident trying to help."

Cristiano had earlier seen Girardi as he passed through a sobriety checkpoint.

Henry did escape the accident without injury and declined to be taken to the hospital. For those who think what Girardi did was minor, though, you have another thing coming.

According to the police, Girardi ran across moving traffic to get across the highway and check on the accident.

"He could have gotten killed," county Sgt. Thomas McGurn said, adding that responding police units take extra precaution in that area because of the blind curve and speeding cars. "Traffic goes by at 80 mph."

Remember, Girardi had no way of knowing the woman in the accident was unharmed and he put himself at risk in the case he would be able to help an injured motorist.

In other news, Girardi's "Bucket List" is likely starting to take shape.

Major League Baseball player -- check.

Wife and kids -- check.

Major league All-Star -- check.

World Series champion as a player -- check.

World Series champion as a manager -- check.

Run through speeding traffic and be first on the scene to a car accident -- check.

Next stop: Mount Everest? Skydiving?

Godspeed, Joe.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=756439&pid=756438&uts=1257398383

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

World Series 2009

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: The New York Yankees celebrate after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Johnny Damon

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

World Series

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Mariano Rivera #42 (C) and Mark Teixeira #25 (L) of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Teixeira;Mariano Rivera

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: The New York Yankees celebrate after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joba Chamberlain

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees celebrates with his teammates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Jeter

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

Joe Girardi: World Series Champion Manager and Good Samaritan originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Yankees Parade 2009: Here's the Plan

Tom Herrera — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, World Series

The New York Yankees parade for 2009 will be held Friday morning, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg announced after the Yankees wrapped up their 27th World Series championship. Friday's ticker-tape parade will begin on Broadway at Battery Place at 11 AM ET and continue northbound up the Canyon of Heroes to Chambers Street. After that, Mayor Bloomberg will present the Yankees with the keys to the city.

All pretty standard stuff. But of course, there's also the mayoral bet to be settled. And if Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter doesn't want to get dirty, he better bring his apron to the Bronx.

Photos: Yankee Fans Celebrate in the Streets | Celebrity Appearances

See, Nutter made a side bet with Bloomberg before the World Series and now will head to New York to help paint a mural on the side of a recreation center wearing a Yankees jersey.

Here was the statement Bloomberg issued after the Yanks' 7-3 victory:

"Congratulations to the Yankees for bringing the world championship back home to New York City, where it belongs," said Bloomberg. "The Yankees have thrilled the city all year long with their come-from-behind victories and never-say-die attitude, and they did it again in the World Series. What's sweeter than a World Series won at home? The only thing that comes close is a ticker-tape parade up the Canyon of Heroes, and that's exactly what New Yorkers will get on Friday. The Phillies were a tough team to beat, but I must admit I look forward to seeing Mayor (Michael) Nutter in pinstripes as he joins me and some of our public school students as we paint the Albert Einstein School in the Bronx."

Yankee fans will surely be in a lovable (and/or rambunctious) mood as the parade festivities kick off. Waiting nine years for another World Series championship may seem like nothing to fans of other baseball teams, but Yankee fans expect excellence from their clubs. The Yankees' last title of course came via a Subway Series victory over the Mets in 2000.

Speaking of love, how about this for something to celebrate: According to the AP report, a man used a television blimp at Yankee Stadium during the game to propose to his girlfriend.

A television blimp circled above the stadium during the entire game, and at one point the electronic lettering on the side beamed "Lisa, will you marry me? Love John."

The blimp circled the stadium again, and on the next round it brought the answer: She said "yes."

Way to go, John. Just don't wear a white pinstriped tuxedo to your wedding. Girls hate that stuff.

Like John and Lisa, hundreds of fans were already rejoicing up and down down the streets of N.Y. into the early hours of Thursday morning. As a matter of fact, I just overheard some random inebriated man scream "Eyyyyyyy!! We got it!!" at 5 AM outside my Astoria, Queens, apartment window.

"[We have the] greatest fans in the world," Derek Jeter said. "I can't say enough about them. They've been here since Day 1. People were always talking about our new stadium, 'Would it be the same?' Well, we got the same fans."

So far, there have been no early reports of disturbances related to the Yankees victory, according to New York City police. Several patrol cars and officers were on watch at street corners just to be sure.

Stay safe this weekend, New York. And party hard.

Yankees Parade 2009: Here's the Plan originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Trio With Uncertain Future Makes Yankees' Present Awfully Sweet

Ed Price — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:45:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, MLB Biz, MLB Playoffs, World Series

NEW YORK -- None of them were on the field Wednesday when Robinson Cano threw out Shane Victorino to clinch the Yankees' World Series championship.

And no one should be surprised if neither Hideki Matsui, Andy Pettitte nor Johnny Damon are on the field in Tampa, Fla., next February for Yankees' spring training.

But this championship would not have happened without them.

All three are potential free agents. And all three may wind up leaving the Yankees, for various reasons.

The Yankees could let Matsui and his balky knees go because they seem to prefer not to have a full-time DH, instead rotating that spot in the lineup to give players some rest (remember, Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter are all in their 30s).

Damon's defense and durability are in decline, and the Yankees do have outfielders Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher under control for 2010.

Pettitte, meanwhile, would probably be welcomed back next year -- if he wants to play. He wavered on retirement the past three winters, especially after 2006 and '07, and now that he has fulfilled two goals by playing in the new Yankee Stadium and earning another ring, perhaps this is the time to walk away.

General manager Brian Cashman said he spent part of the 1998 World Series, his first as GM, stressing over the upcoming winter decisions, such as whether to re-sign Bernie Williams.

Now he knows to put everything off until after the postseason is over.

"Now is not the time to deal with that," Cashman said on the field after Game 6. "We're going to celebrate. The business side of the game will kick in here at some point."

Matsui drove in six runs in the 7-3 Game 6 victory, tying the record for a World Series game and most ever in a World Series clincher. He earned Series MVP honors even though, as a DH, he got just one plate appearance each night in Games 3-5, as a pinch hitter.

"I hope [to return]," Matsui said, through interpreter Roger Kahlon, upon being presented with the World Series MVP. "I hope it works out. I love New York. I love the Yankees. I love the fans here."

Yankees assistant GM Jean Afterman, who was instrumental in recruiting and signing Matsui after his 10 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, said Matsui grew up idolizing Babe Ruth.

"His dream was to become a Yankee," Afterman said.

"He wanted to play where Babe Ruth played. He wanted to do what Babe Ruth did."

As if he was making a last-ditch case for the Yankees to being him back, Matsui hit .615 (8-for-13) with three homers, eight RBI and a 1.385 slugging percentage -- the second-highest in World Series history.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=756439&pid=756438&uts=1257407218

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

World Series 2009

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter, left, and Mariano Rivera look at the championship trophy after winning the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

World Series

A visitor watches as TV sets show New York Yankees designate hitter Hideki Matsui at bat in Game 6 of the World Series baseball at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A visitor watches a TV screen showing New York Yankees designate hitter Hideki Matsui lifting the MVP trophy he won in the World Series baseball at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, left, and Derek Jeter celebrate after Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. The Yankees won 7-3. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People watch a live broadcast on TV at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, showing New York Yankees' MVP Hideki Matsui at bat during the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Phillies 7-3. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte reacts during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Yankees' Jorge Posada leaps into the arms of a teammate after the Yankees won the Major League Baseball World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People watch a TV at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, showing New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui at bat during the Major League Baseball World Series Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Phillies 7-3. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte tips his cap after being relieved by Joba Chamberlain during the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

People watch a TV at Yamada Denki discount store in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, showing New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui hitting a two-run homer in the second inning during the Major League Baseball World Series Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in New York. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to be named World Series Most Valuable Player after hitting a record six RBIs in the deciding game to lead the Yankees over the Phillies 7-3. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

"I think you've got to think about everything that he's done," Afterman said when asked about bringing back Matsui. "I think you've got to think about everything he's achieved and who he is. And then who he is and what he means to this team. And what he means to this country and his country.

"It's quite a thing to be a hero in two countries at the same time."

Pettitte is such a hero that his postgame speech from the on-field stage was inaudible in Yankee Stadium, drowned out by the fans' chants of "An-dy Pett-ittte!"

He won two games in the Series, including Game 6 -- making him the first pitcher ever to start and win the series clincher in the Division Series, LCS and World Series the same season. His 18 career postseason wins are a record, and only Whitey Ford has pitched in more World Series than Pettitte's eight.

"I'm not sure," Pettitte said of his future. "I'm not. I need to get home, talk to my family. I'll need to talk to the Yankees and find out where they're at. And then I'll probably start trying to figure out what I'd like to do."

Pettitte wasn't great on three days' rest, walking five in 5 2/3 innings. But only one of those runners scored.

"There was really nothing special," Phillies leadoff man Jimmy Rollins said, "but he made one great pitch every at-bat it seemed like. When he needed that pitch he was able to make it, got some double plays that really shortens an inning.

"That's what Andy does. He keeps his team in the game. You walk away shaking your head -- how didn't we get to him? -- but obviously he's pretty good because he's been doing it a long time."

Closer Mariano Rivera wouldn't admit to any recruiting calls last winter but did say he "wanted to make sure that Andy came back."

Because Pettitte's past fence-sitting was based in large part on his health, and he showed with Wednesday's short-rest outing that he is OK, perhaps it won't be a tough sell this time around.

In contrast to Matsui and Pettitte, Damon showed in the finale why it might be wise not to re-sign him. He had to come out of Game 6 with a strained right calf, suffered running home on Matsui's third-inning single.

Damon did score a team-high six runs in the Series, none more important than the one in the ninth inning of Game 4 after his heady double steal. (The Hall of Fame has already taken possession of the cleats Damon wore that night.)

While Damon has said he would like to come back, he also admitted he doesn't know if he will.

Matsui, Damon and Pettitte have something else in common besides their contractual status: they are respected by their peers for their professionalism.

Damon is a goofy free spirit. Matsui shows great respect to everyone around him and seems serious but has a sense of humor that he can unveil, in English, at moments. Pettitte is a tireless worker with great pride.

But when time comes to play, they all show up.

With George Steinbrenner's health in decline, irrationality is gone from Yankees' front office. And Cashman can be cold-blooded in his decision-making; there was a blip of sentimentality after the 2007 season when Steinbrenner's sons -- in the wake of the Joe Torre parting -- signed Rodriguez, Rivera and Posada to over-market contracts, but that seems to have been wiped out.

So in the coming days, Pettitte will ponder his future as Cashman considers how badly he wants Matsui and Damon back, if at all.

The story lines won't play out quickly this winter. But even if all three are somewhere else come spring, their contributions this fall won't soon be forgotten by the Yankees and their fans.

Trio With Uncertain Future Makes Yankees' Present Awfully Sweet originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Yankees Quit Playing Games, Start Playing Championship Baseball

Terence Moore — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:45:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, World Series

NEW YORK -- The biggest World Series choke involved the New York Yankees, but they won back then in 1996 over the gasping Atlanta Braves.

The Yankees won this time, too. It's just that they did so to avoid sliding toward the brutal end of the second-worst choke in World Series history.

On a clear Wednesday night in the Bronx, with Hideki Matsui's sizzling Mizuno bat and various pinstriped chants warming the November chill inside the newest version of Yankee Stadium, the home team got a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. It also got a 27th world championship for the franchise.

Plus, it got these current Yankees off the hook.

They would have been dangling by that hook over the edge of the George Washington Bridge with a World Series loss. Not only did they have to win the 2009 world championship, but the clincher had to come Wednesday night in Game 6. The way things were going for the extremely gifted but occasionally wobbly Yankees during this series that should have ended in five games, they couldn't depend on a Game 7. They couldn't spend another night pumping life into what was a World Series corpse after the Phillies won just once in the opening four games.

"It's a great ballclub with a lot of heart," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, telling the truth about the Phillies, the defending world champions.

The thing is, the Phillies weren't superior to the Yankees. Nobody was, and despite many of the World Series results since 2000 -- you know, the last year the Yankees won it all -- nobody has possessed more reasons to hoist baseball's ultimate trophy after the past nine seasons than the team that has done it more than anybody. The Yankees have the money, and they have the talent, and they have the legacy. In fact, the NFL names its world championship trophy after Vince Lombardi. The NBA honors Larry O'Brien, and the NHL has its cup from Lord Frederick Walter Stanley. So, instead of the Commissioner's Trophy, which is the official name of baseball's award, how about something named after any great from Yankees history?

Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle. It doesn't matter.

Given all that Yankee stuff, it's like this: Whenever they don't win it all, they've usually choked. Said Matsui, crowned the World Series Most Valuable Player after he batted a ridiculous .615 with three home runs and eight RBI as mostly a designated hitter, "My first and foremost goal when I joined the Yankees [in 2003] was to win a world championship. Certainly it's been a long road and very difficult journey."

It was another World Series loss from becoming a wretched journey. That's why the Yankees couldn't take the chance of blowing it on Wednesday night, especially since they began the evening with a three-game losing streak whenever they've had the opportunity to clinch a world championship. There were Games 6 and 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, when the Yankees dropped the World Series finale on the road. Then there was their 8-6 loss on Monday night in Philadelphia.

There also was that 2004 ugliness rattling around the memories of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Matsui. It was a quintet that experienced baseball infamy. After the Yankees surged to a 3-0 lead over the Boston Red Sox during that American League Championship Series, the Yankees miraculously spent the World Series at home. They lost four straight with much help in Game 7 from Johnny Damon's grand slam for the Red Sox.

This is the same Johnny Damon who was among those trying to keep the Yankees from grabbing their throats against the Phillies. He left the game before the top of the fourth inning after straining his right calf while scoring one of the Yankees' two runs during the bottom of the third.

The Yankees didn't need him. They had Matsui, along with a bunch of everything else that made this a must-win World Series for them.

Nobody won more games during the regular season than the Yankees' 103. They entered the World Series with a huge advantage over any National League team they would play courtesy of the DH -- as in Matsui, with a record-tying six RBI on Wednesday night. Their pitching was at least a Mariano Rivera (the greatest reliever ever in October and now November) better than the Phillies. In fact, that Yankees pitching was significantly better than that with the trio of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte trumping Phillies' brilliant ace Cliff Lee, a fading Pedro Martinez and Cole Hamels, who confessed during the middle of the World Series that he'd rather be fishing or something.

Oh, and don't forget about Derek Jeter continuing his Lou Gehrig imitation. Just like Gehrig, Jeter is a Yankee captain. And, just like Gehrig, Jeter is a terror in the World Series. He has hit safely in 32 of the 38 World Series games he has played, including Wednesday night, when he had three hits and scored twice. Just three players with 100 or more World Series at-bats have a higher batting average than Jeter's .321, and in case you're wondering, Gehrig leads the way at .361.

And did I mention the Yankees said before the playoffs began that they wished to win it all for George Steinbrenner, their ailing owner of yore?

The Yankees were just better, period.

As for the biggest choke, it was spectacular. It was Jim Leyritz. It was the Braves doing the unfathomable on the positive and on the negative in the same World Series. First, they won the first two games at Yankee Stadium. Then they roared to a 6-3 lead in the eighth inning of Game 4 while holding a 2-1 advantage in the series.

End of the positive for the Braves.

Leyritz ripped a three-run homer to tie the game along the way to a New York victory, and the Braves crawled into a corner for the rest of the World Series.

The Yankees didn't need Leyritz this time.

They just needed to stop fooling around.

Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=756439&pid=756438&uts=1257398383

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

World Series 2009

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

World Series

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: The New York Yankees celebrate after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joba Chamberlain

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

Yankees Quit Playing Games, Start Playing Championship Baseball originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

No Fraud: Rodriguez Finally a Champ

FanHouse Newswire — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:10:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, MLB Playoffs, World Series

NEW YORK (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez grabbed the World Series trophy and wouldn't let go.

After the New York Yankees regained the title for the first time in nine years, after the podium presentation before a delirious crowd of 50,315 christened the new ballpark with a title in its first year, A-Rod was the one to carry the trophy back to the clubhouse. He raised it high, showing it off to the fans, a triumph for the team and for himself.

"Look, a lot of people ran the other way. My teammates and coaches and organization stood right next to me. And now we stand together as world champs," he said a few minutes later in the clubhouse, under a shower of Moet & Chandon and Armand de Brignac. "It's been a special year. I know it started rocky for us."

He had piled up money in the bank and MVP awards on his mantle. Now he has the one and only prize he's ever wanted -- a World Series championship ring.

"He's exorcised a lot of demons," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said a few feet from the podium. "There's no reason to take any 'He can't do this; he can't do that.' He's done it all now. So now, he can just continue to write history, because he's one of the greatest players to ever play this game."

After six seasons of hits and home runs, heartaches and headaches, he finally earned his pinstripes in the eyes of the fans the only way Yankees can -- with a title.

"I'm so happy the way they treated me all year," he said. "They stood behind me. Walking around the City of New York, everybody was so supportive."

He arrived in spring training exposed and embarrassed, labeled a steroid user from his years with Texas. His news conference was the low point of his career.

"I just knew then when I had the 25 guys there standing next to me, and organization and my general manager, they meant the world to me," he said. "I said that day that this is going to turn out to be maybe one of the most special years of our lives, and it sure has."

Then, weeks later, he wound up on an operating table in Colorado, unsure whether he'd make it on the field.

When he returned from hip surgery, it was a season of superlatives. He homered on his first swing in Baltimore, rousing the Yankees from the slumber of a 13-15 start, and homered on his last of the regular season at Tampa Bay. His three-run homer and grand slam against the Rays that afternoon gave him 30 homers and 100 RBIs for the 12th consecutive year.

And then he did away with the 0-for-October reputation that had stuck to him as much as his three AL MVPs. Rodriguez put together a performance that matched those of the players he seems to most admire, Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter.

"He's one of the big reasons we're here," captain Jeter said.

A-Rod had been 8 for 59 (.136) in the postseason dating to 2004 and hitless in 18 consecutive playoff at-bats with runners in scoring position.

But this was a new A-Rod, liberated and transformed in his 16th big league season. Finally starting to grow up at age 34, he shed the distractions caused by his $275 million contract and an entourage of handlers he picked up from Madonna. He glowed in his relationship with new girlfriend Kate Hudson.

"I saw Kate, she was smiling so much I barely recognized her," Jackson said. "I think he feels happy. Seeing him, he's just happy."

This A-Rod was a one-man highlight reel.

He chased the Minnesota Twins' starter with an RBI single in the postseason opener, tied the score in the ninth inning of Game 2 with a two-run homer off Joe Nathan and tied the score again with another home run in the seventh inning of Game 3. He hit a tying 11th-inning homer off the Angels' Brian Fuentes in Game 2 of the American League championship series, then homered again in Games 3 and 4.

His only World Series home run, awarded after a video review in Game 3, awoke the Yankees from a 3-0 deficit against Cole Hamels. He led the Yankees in the postseason with a .365 average, six homers, 18 RBIs, 15 runs and 12 walks. After an 0-for-8 start in the Series that included six strikeouts, he was 5 for 12 with six RBIs in the final four games.

When he first joined the Yankees in 2004, the Yankees spurted to a 3-0 lead against Boston in the AL championship series before the greatest postseason collapse in baseball history.

Acceptance delayed. But not denied.

"It," he said, "probably feels better than '04 would have felt."

By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=756439&pid=756438&uts=1257398383

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

World Series 2009

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

World Series

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: The New York Yankees celebrate after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joba Chamberlain

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

No Fraud: Rodriguez Finally a Champ originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Not the American Dream, but Give Yankees Props

Jay Mariotti — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:05:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, World Series

NEW YORK -- There is something arrogantly American about it, I know. The $210-million Yankees have won a World Series amid a destructive recession, doing it for Boss George Steinbrenner in the first season of their $1.5-billion edifice of excess, where a $275-million lightning rod just happened to overcome a steroids crisis and finally deliver the postseason we've long demanded. None of those elements are universally endearing to the masses, yet all converged on a festive, rocking November night when Championship No. 27 wasn't welcomed by the pinstripe haters as much as force-fed into them like skunk oil.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=756439&pid=756438&uts=1257398383

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

World Series 2009

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

World Series

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: The New York Yankees celebrate after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joba Chamberlain

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

Fletcher: Phillies Abdicate Throne | Moore: Yanks Quit Playing Games

Price: Uncertain Future for N.Y. Trio | Olson: Phillies Fade Into Night
Box Score | Matsui MVP | A-Rod Finally a Champ | Yankees Parade Plans
Shop: Get Yankees Championship Gear

Look, President Obama might say, "This is corporate America at its bloated, ignorant worst. The White Sox have a better business plan."

"We're supposed to win," said Yankees manager, Joe Girardi. "We know that every day we come to work."

That said, even the bashers have to rise up and give the Yankees props. They came. They spent. They conquered. This time, they didn't spend a fortune and fall short, as they did eight consecutive years since their last championship in 2000. You might say they are supposed to win when their payroll is almost twice as much as anyone else's and eight times higher than that of the Florida Marlins. But unlike other years, they identified the right players to make wealthy. Along the way, their most expensive and problematic player, Alex Rodriguez, found a woman who wasn't Madonna, wasn't a madam but was a good-luck charm and soothing soul, and how fitting that Kate Hudson -- she of the .800-plus winning percentage when attending Yankees games -- partied with the rest of them Wednesday night like the groupie she was in "Almost Famous."

Nothing is almost famous about this franchise, of course. The Yankees, again, are the most celebrated and polarizing team in American sports, if not all the world, finally living up to the highest payroll in baseball and dethroning the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-3, in Game 6. Of all the sluggers to dominate the final game, few would have guessed Hideki Matsui, who could have been playing his last game with the Yankees. Godzilla, as they call him, launched the party with a two-run homer and wound up with six RBIs in an epic performance. Is this the way he wants to say sayonara?

"It's unbelievable. I surprised myself," Matsui said through an interpreter during the on-field celebration. "I hope it works out that way that I can stay. I love New York, I love the fans. I feel so great."

Give the man a two-year contract. How can you cut loose the World Series MVP, the first full-time designated hitter to win that trophy? By night's end, as the fans shrieked and police ringed the field, A.J. Burnett had to nail one last triumphant victim with a victory pie. Would it be Matsui? Nada.

It was Girardi, who pulled together several multi-million-dollar corporations and turned the Yankees into a genuine cohesive group.

"A.J. promised me one by the end of the year," he said.

As Sinatra's epic "New York, New York" -- apparently, Jay-Z isn't the new Sinatra just yet -- blasted off the $2,000 cushioned seats, the various theme restaurants and bars, the replicated frieze that lines the roof and the 50,000 worshippers who wouldn't have missed this in a tsunami, it was clear that the Yankees are back to where they ought to be. For eight years, no team in pro sports spent more money with less reward. The Steinbrenner clan and their general manager, Brian Cashman, spent nearly $2 billion in salaries since their dynasty officially ended in 2001, when they were toppled by Arizona upstarts. But at long last, management watched the paid help, one by one, live up to their massive contracts and satsify The Boss, who has been ill for some time and couldn't make it to the new Stadium to see his seventh championship since he purchased the team.

"Dad, I know you're watching at home with mom. This one is for you," said his son, Hal, who has been more front and center in running the club this year than his brother, the combustible Hank. "I think this means everything to him. It's been a while, nine years, and he's proud. This team just fights and fights and fights. They deserve this, for sure."
"This is a dream, an amazing dream, and I waited a long time for it. Twenty-five guys bought into Joe Girardi's system, and I couldn't be prouder."
-- Alex Rodriguez
They finish the decade with as many World Series titles -- two -- as the Boston Red Sox. Some would say that gives the edge to the Red Sox, seeing how they haven't spent nearly as much money. If so, the Yankees could take some satisfaction in beating up a mouthy Red Sox mainstay in 2004, the one who dared to diss the Bambino and may have contributed to ending the curse. Who can forget Game 7 that year, when the Yankees were about to complete an all-time choke job in a silent Stadium and the Red Sox rubbed it in by bringing in Pedro Martinez, the nemesis? Well, there was Pedro again, reincarnated in a Phillies uniform, taking his lumps You thought it was surreal seeing him five years later? So did Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, who opposed Martinez on the mound. "Me and Derek were talking about it in the clubhouse, just how strange this is after all the battles with him being in Boston," Pettitte said.

Anyone who thought Pedro was going to throw more voodoo, at 38, doesn't understand the physics of the Yankee universe. It became clear in May, when Rodriguez returned with a healthier hip and an unclouded head, that this was their year. It became clearer when the Red Sox faded and the Angels couldn't hang. Only the Phillies had a shot, but when Ryan Howard morphed into Jared from the Subway commercial and was done in by sliders, you knew the defending champs couldn't do it only with "Ut-Lee'' -- a combination of Chase Utley and Cliff Lee, two magnificent performers who made history in this Series but needed help from teammates who rarely showed up.

It was the year when Rodriguez, admittedly at "rock bottom" after he was forced to reveal his steroids use, decided to stop thinking, to stop trying to craft a public image that America loathed and simply relied on the enormous talents with which he was blessed. "With all the stuff I've been through, you have nothing to lose," he said of his approach this season. "For the first time in my career, I've felt like an underdog." Now he is a champion, having shed the awful numbers in his previous three postseasons combined -- .159, one homer, one RBI -- to carry his team with six homers and a franchise-record-tying 15 RBIs. Remember all the stories in the past about the rancor between A-Rod and the captain, Jeter? I watched them hug in the infield for about 15 seconds.

"This is a dream, an amazing dream, and I waited a long time for it," Rodriguez said. "Twenty-five guys bought into Joe Girardi's system, and I couldn't be prouder. A lot of people were running the other way from me this year. My teammates and the manager and the coaches were right there next to me the whole way. Now, we're standing here right now as world champions. And we're gonna enjoy this and we're gonna party!"

It was the year when the starting rotation, such a mess in recent season, was fixed by talent and savvy. Oh, sure, it was easy enough to throw $423.5 million at CC Sabathia and Burnett, but both produced when necessary, particularly Carsten Charles, a workhorse who rarely didn't keep the Yankees in the game and often was dominant. They said Pettitte wouldn't survive on three days' rest in Game 6, but he was the only one hung up on the fatigue issue. He showed why he's the all-time winningest pitcher in postseason history, notching his 18th victory and sixth that ended a series, both all-time records. He was the starter in all three clinching games of the Yankees postseason. Like his former friend, Roger Clemens, Pettitte was nabbed as a juicer in the steroids scandal. Unlike Clemens, he apologized from the heart and was accepted back by the New York crowds. He won't make the Hall of Fame and shouldn't be forgiven for his sins, but there's no questioning his heart.

It was the year when Girardi shut up the critics, including some in his own front office, who accused him of not communicating well enough with the players and overmanaging with his Northwestern engineering degree, his ThinkPad laptop and a big, blue, 200-plus-page binder with every imaginable statistic. The New York media jumped him when he tried to play a game of cerebral chess in the American League championship series with Mike Scioscia, the revered Angels manager. But in the end, didn't Girardi win the series? Against the Phillies, he dared to go with a three-man rotation, an old-school device that hasn't been used in a World Series since the Twins in 1991. When Burnett was rocked in Game 5, the Joe-bashers were back. But his strategy made perfect sense: If you're going to pay big money for Sabathia and Burnett, and if you have the all-time postseason winner in Pettitte, why not pitch them on short rest in the final three games and let it all hang out? If the Yankees couldn't win one of those three, then they didn't deserve to be champions anyway.

They did win one of them. And when the critics chided him for using Mariano Rivera in two-inning save situations, guess what? He survived that gamble, too -- to the point RIvera, not Matsui, should have been the Series MVP. Laugh all you want at the binder, but when he was pondering the postseason roster, Girardi noticed that reliever Damaso Marte -- he of the 9.45 ERA in the regular season -- had three strikeouts in three at-bats against Howard. It wasn't the only reason he made the roster, but Girardi looks quite sharp now that Marte has been a revelation the last three weeks. Joe Torre was a god among Yankees fans. His former catcher, Girardi, not only has overcome that shadow but proved he could manage his emotions better after his embarrassing dismissal by the Marlins in 2007, a year after he was voted Manager of the Year.

"I think it would have been somewhat difficult for any manager to do, because he was here for so long -- the relationships he had with the players, the media, with everyone involved. Obviously, I understood that going in," Girardi said of Torre. "It wasn't going to be easy to replace him. I never tried to replace him. I just tried to be myself."

Torre had to deal with the daily meddling of Boss George. Girardi has avoided that burden thanks to Cashman and Steinbrenner's sons, who let the manager manage. "I think for me, pressures always came from within, because I want it really bad," said Girardi, who wore No. 27 all year in hopes it would help inspire title No. 27. "I want it for the organization, I want it for Mr. Steinbrenner and his family, and I want it for the guys in that room."

It also was a year when these spectacular-priced stars, who didn't have to like each other, genuinely formed a bond of love. Girardi was ridiculed early in spring training when he hired a bus one night to take the team to a Tampa pool hall. But these are human beings, believe it or not, and Girardi helped succeed in melding personalities. A-Rod used to be a loner. Now, he hangs out with the guys -- when Kate isn't around, of course. The chemistry was reflected in how they won games. When Mark Teixeira was cold in the postseason, A-Rod picked him up. When A-Rod was sidelined early, Jeter and Johnny Damon carried the club. Yes, the Yankees are the Best Team Money Can Buy. But the Core Four, as they're called -- Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera and Jorge Posada -- formed a foundation that is almost unheard of in modern sports. They've been around for 13 years and five championships, and Jeter and Rivera will be first-ballot Hall of Famers. This team could have gone south after Rodriguez's turbulent spring, but the veteran leadership refused to let A-Rod sulk through the season and bring down the cause. The culture helped him immensely. Because they carried him emotionally, he carried them with his bat. They are not dummies, these Yankees.

There was a sense in the Bronx air, after midnight, that the inevitable finally happened after a nine-year delay. "When you add the top three free agents," Damon said of Sabathia, Teixiera and Burnett, "you should get better." Still, the Yankees never fail to give us intrigue, conversation pieces, controversy and, for the first time since 2004, good TV ratings in the postseason. America needs this franchise playing in the autumn, for love or hate purposes, and it's good to see they're back.

Even if the payroll is hideous and a watered-down beer costs $10.

Not the American Dream, but Give Yankees Props originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Yankee Fans Delight on Streets of N.Y.

FanHouse Newswire — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:25:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, MLB Playoffs, World Series

NEW YORK (AP) -- Hundreds of Yankees fans poured into the streets of New York early Thursday to celebrate the team's 27th World Series championship, a party that extended uptown and began building hours earlier when the crowd at Yankee Stadium danced and sang to the music even before the first pitch.

Fans in Yankees jerseys and hats who watched the 7-3 victory over Philadelphia at sports bar Stout spilled out onto 33rd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues early Thursday in Manhattan. Greeted by an NYPD van, several patrol cars with lights flashing and officers standing on street corners, they remained well-behaved.

New York City police said there were no early reports of disturbances related to the Yankees victory.

A ticker-tape parade and ceremony to honor the team has been scheduled for Friday.

Outside the team's $1.5 billion ballpark in the Bronx, 16-year-old Ryan Wessel of Somers, N.Y., bought two Yankees hat right after the game. He reveled in the team's win, underscored by Hideki Matsui's record-tying six RBIs. Matsui was named World Series MVP.

"He definitely should have gotten it," Wessel said. "He's my favorite player."

Fans at Stout yelled, "MVP! MVP! MVP!" every time Matsui came to bat.

The three-level bar was packed most of Wednesday evening with fans from as far away as San Diego hanging on every pitch as they watched Game 6 on flat-screen televisions.

"It's phenomenal," said Robert Christiansen, 41, of Malverne, N.Y. "It's all you can ask for."

When Yankees left-hander Damaso Marte struck out Phillies second baseman Chase Utley on three pitches with two runners on to end the top of the seventh inning, a sense of relief overcame the packed house at Stout.

The crowd responded to the strikeout by chanting: "Yankees! Yankees! Yankees!"

Gabriel Ortega, 28, a credit card executive from San Diego, called it "an extraordinary game; it's keeping us on our toes."

"We love Matsui," said Ortega.

Fans had waited nine years since the team's last World Series win, a Subway Series against their crosstown rivals, the Mets, in 2000.

Some were quick to note that before the series began, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins had predicted a Philadelphia victory in five games.

But it was a quiet night on Broad Street in Philadelphia, where thousands of fans partied when the Phillies won the National League championship.

There were no postgame troubles in the city early Thursday, Philadelphia police spokesman Officer Stephen Malen said.

At Yankee Stadium, the stands trembled after each key hit.

A television blimp circled above the stadium during the entire game, and at one point the electronic lettering on the side beamed "Lisa, will you marry me? Love John."

The blimp circled the stadium again, and on the next round it brought the answer: She said "yes."

By VIRGINIA BYRNE, AP

Associated Press writer Verena Dobnik in New York City contributed to this report.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Yankee Fans Delight on Streets of N.Y. originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Hideki Matsui Named World Series MVP

Andrew Johnson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:13:00 EST

Filed under: Yankees, MLB Awards, MLB Playoffs, World Series

Hideki Matsui was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2009 World Series after a record-setting performance in the decisive Game 6.

Matsui drove in six of the Yankees' seven runs in their World Series-clinching victory, staking New York to an early lead with a two-run homer off of Pedro Martinez in the second inning and falling a triple short of the cycle. His six RBI were the most by any player in a World Series clincher. Five others -- including Reggie Jackson -- held the record of five RBI previously.

"It's awesome," Matsui said through a translator of his achievement. "Unbelievable. I'm surprised myself.

"It's certainly different. All I can say right now is I feel great," he added.

Due to be a free agent this winter, Matsui is the first native of Japan to win the award -- yet another milestone as Japanese players begin to lay their roots in the major leagues.

Asked whether he would return to the Yankees next season, Matsui, 35, sounded optimistic.

"I hope so. I hope it works out that way," he said. "I love New York, I love the Yankees."

The Yankees will look to get younger this offseason, so Matsui may not fit into their plans, particularly with some of their other veterans like Jorge Posada headed for more DH duty down the line. It will certainly be a lot harder to let him hit the open market after his performance throughout the 2009 season, but particularly in the playoffs.

Matsui is only the second designated hitter to win World Series MVP after Paul Molitor, who won it with the Blue Jays in 1993.

Molitor played three games at DH, two at first base and one at third base in that series, but Matsui did not start any games for the Yankees when the series shifted to Philadelphia (where National League rules were in play) for Games 3, 4 and 5, being relegated to pinch-hitting duty instead.

Matsui hit .615 in the series, with three home runs and eight RBI.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=756439&pid=756438&uts=1257398383

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

World Series 2009

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

World Series

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: The New York Yankees celebrate after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joba Chamberlain

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

Hideki Matsui Named World Series MVP originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Yankees Capture 27th World Series Title

FanHouse Newswire — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:50:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, World Series

NEW YORK (AP) -- Paint the town in pinstripes! Nearly a decade after their dynasty ended on a blooper in the desert, the New York Yankees are baseball's best again.

Hideki Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBIs, Andy Pettitte won on short rest and New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 on Wednesday night, finally seizing that elusive 27th title - the most in all of sports.

It was the team's first since winning three straight from 1998-2000.

Mariotti: Not the American Dream, but Give Yankees Props
Fletcher: Phillies Abdicate Throne | Moore: Yanks Quit Playing Games
Price: Uncertain Future for N.Y. Trio | Olson: Phillies Fade Into Night
Box Score | Matsui MVP | A-Rod Finally a Champ | Fans Rejoice in Victory

Matsui, the Series MVP, powered a quick rout of old foe Pedro Martinez. And when Mariano Rivera got the final out, it was ecstasy in the Bronx for George Steinbrenner's go-for-broke bunch.

What a way for Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and crew to christen their $1.5 billion ballpark: One season, one championship.

And to think it capped a season that started in turmoil -- a steroids scandal involving A-Rod, followed by hip surgery that kept him out until May.

"My teammates, coaches and the organization stood by me and now we stand here as world champions," Rodriguez said. "We're going to enjoy it, and we're going to party!"

During postgame ceremonies on the field, the big video board in center flashed: "Boss, this is for you." And commissioner Bud Selig dedicated the moment to Steinbrenner.

About 100 miles south, disappointment.

For Chase Utley and the Phillies, it was a frustrating end to another scintillating season. Philadelphia fell two wins short of becoming the first NL team to repeat as World Series champions since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds.

Ryan Howard's sixth-inning homer came too late to wipe away his World Series slump, and Phillies pitchers rarely managed to slow Matsui and the Yankees' machine.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=756439&pid=756438&uts=1257398383

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

World Series 2009

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

World Series

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: The New York Yankees celebrate after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joba Chamberlain

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees celebrates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

Getty Images

"It's important in our next couple years to stay afloat," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I know we can do better."

In a fitting coincidence, this championship came eight years to the day after the Yankees lost Game 7 of the 2001 World Series in Arizona on Luis Gonzalez's broken-bat single off Rivera.

New York spent billions trying to get back. At long last, it did.

"We're looking forward to this parade," Jeter said.

Hey Babe and Yogi, Mr. October and Joltin' Joe -- you've got company. Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and a new generation of Yankees have procured their place in pinstriped lore.

And for the four amigos, it was ring No. 5.

Jorge Posada, Jeter, Pettitte and Rivera came up together through the minors and were cornerstones for those four titles in five years starting in 1996.

Now, all on the other side of age 35, they have another success to celebrate. And surely they remember the familiar parade route, up Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes.

Indeed, a New York City-sized party is next. Nine years in the making, with all the glitz and glamour this tony town can offer.

"You never know when you're going to get back here," Posada said.

Carrying flags that read 2009 World Series champions, Joba Chamberlain and Nick Swisher led a victory lap around the warning track. Players high-fived fans, then sprayed bubbly behind the mound.

For the 79-year-old Steinbrenner, who has been in declining health, it was the seventh championship since he bought the team in 1973.

Though he stayed back home in Tampa, Fla., he certainly wasn't forgotten. The grounds crew wore "Win it for The Boss" shirts last week, which were on sale outside the ballpark Wednesday.

New York wasted its chance to wrap things up in Game 5 at Philadelphia, then set its sights on clinching the World Series at home for the first time since 1999.

While nine years between titles is hardly a drought for most teams, it was almost an eternity in Yankeeland.

New York's eight seasons without a championship was the third-longest stretch for the Yankees since their first one, following gaps of 17 (1979-95) and 14 (1963-76).

Reggie Jackson's three homers in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers made the Yankees champs in '77. On this November night, Matsui delivered a sublime performance at the plate that must have made Mr. October proud.

"It's awesome," Matsui said through a translator. "Unbelievable. I'm surprised myself."

By the Numbers
27 World Series championships by the New York Yankees
6 RBI by Hideki Matsui in the decisive sixth game -- a record for a World Series-clinching victory
1.57 Billion Approximate dollars spent by the Yankees on payroll since their last World Series title in 2000
.373 Alex Rodriguez's batting average in the 2009 postseason. He also had six home runs and 18 RBI. In his previous four postseason trips with the Yankees, Rodriguez hit .245
19 Combined World Series rings won by the Yankees' core four of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera

Playing perhaps his final game with the Yankees, Matsui hit a two-run homer off Martinez in the second inning and a two-run single on an 0-2 pitch in the third.

A slumping Teixeira added an RBI single in the fifth off reliever Chad Durbin, and Matsui cracked a two-run double off the right-center fence against lefty J.A. Happ.

A designated hitter with balky knees, Matsui came off the bench in all three games at Philadelphia. Still, he had a huge Series, going 8 for 13 (.615) with three homers and eight RBIs. His go-ahead shot off an effective Martinez in Game 2 helped the Yankees tie it 1-all.

Bobby Richardson was the only other player with six RBIs in a World Series game, doing it for the Yankees in Game 3 against Pittsburgh in 1960. Richardson had a first-inning grand slam and a two-run single in the fourth.

Matsui's big hits built a comfortable cushion for a feisty Pettitte, who shouted at plate umpire Joe West while coming off the field in the fourth. Still, Pettitte extended major league records with his 18th postseason win and sixth to end a series.

The 37-year-old left-hander, pitching on three days' rest, became the first pitcher to start and win the clincher in all three postseason rounds. He beat Minnesota and the Los Angeles Angels in the AL playoffs.

Pettitte lasted 5 2-3 innings, allowing three runs, four hits and five walks. Chamberlain and Damaso Marte combined for 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief before Rivera secured the final five outs.

It had been nearly a half-century since players had won five titles with one team. The last to do it? Of course a bunch of Yankees: Yogi Berra (10 titles), Mickey Mantle (seven) and Whitey Ford (six) in 1962, according to STATS LLC.

For Joe Girardi, a three-time Yankees champion as a player, it was the fulfillment of a mission. When he succeeded Joe Torre in October 2007, Girardi chose uniform No. 27, putting his quest on his back for all to see. His tenure didn't start out so well, with New York missing the playoffs in its final season at old Yankee Stadium following 13 consecutive appearances.

Steinbrenner's well-paid players hadn't soaked themselves in bubbly after the season since Bernie Williams gloved Mike Piazza's midnight flyout at Shea Stadium to win the 2000 Subway Series and cap the Yankees' third straight championship and fourth in five years.

Two outs from winning in 2001, the Yankees stumbled in the desert. New York then spent more than $1.6 billion after that trying to regain glory, falling short with infamous flops such as Kevin Brown, Javier Vazquez and Carl Pavano.

But last offseason the Yankees got smart, adding a trio of top free agents -- Teixeira, Sabathia and A.J. Burnett -- for $423.5 million. They jelled with Rodriguez, the game's highest-paid player but a winner for the first time in 16 major league seasons.

Notes: Howard set a World Series record with 13 strikeouts. ... Jeter batted .423 in the Series. ... Teixeira had been 2 for 20 before his RBI single in the fifth. ... It was the fourth time Rivera got the final out of a World Series. ... Yankees LF Johnny Damon left after three innings with a strained right calf. ... All-Star CF Shane Victorino was in Philadelphia's lineup despite an injured index finger. Victorino was hit on the right hand by A.J. Burnett's fastball early in Game 5 and removed in the eighth inning.

By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Sports Writer

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Yankees Capture 27th World Series Title originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

World Series Game 6 Live Chat

Andrew Johnson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, Yankees, MLB Live Blogging, MLB Playoffs, World Series

As if the first Game 6 in the World Series in six years wasn't enough to whet your appetite, it's Pedro Martinez in the Bronx, Round 2, on Thursday night. Oh, there's a championship on the line as well as the Yankees try for the second time to win their 27th championship.

Yes, there will be no shortage of drama as the Fall Classic returns to Yankee Stadium, and the MLB FanHouse crew will be here to take you from the first pitch to the final out and beyond.

Will the Yankees celebrate or will the Phillies deliver the best thing all of sports -- a Game 7? Join us after the jump, starting at 7:45 PM ET for a LIVE chat as we find out.

World Series Game 6 Live Chat originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB FanHouse

Knicks Hope a Little of Joe Girardi's Success Rubs Off on Them

Scouting Notes: Braves Shopping Pair of Arms, and Both Could Be Bargains

Chamberlain Doesn't Know '10 Role Yet

Footprints in the Snow: Yankees

Deep Farm Gives Yanks Plenty of Chips

The Death of the Jeter-A-Rod Debate

Money Worries Could Force Reds to Move All-Star Phillips, Others

Boras: Holliday Can Play in Both Leagues

Yankees Not Close to Making Moves, Including With Matsui

Yankees Win the Best Thing for MLB

Joe Girardi: World Series Champion Manager and Good Samaritan

World Series

Yankees Parade 2009: Here's the Plan

Yankee Fans Gone Wild

Trio With Uncertain Future Makes Yankees' Present Awfully Sweet

World Series

Yankees Quit Playing Games, Start Playing Championship Baseball

World Series

No Fraud: Rodriguez Finally a Champ

World Series

Not the American Dream, but Give Yankees Props

World Series

Celebrities at the World Series

Yankee Fans Delight on Streets of N.Y.

Hideki Matsui Named World Series MVP

World Series

Yankees Capture 27th World Series Title

World Series

Celebrities at the World Series

World Series Game 6 Live Chat