Bombers Beat

Millions to line the Canyon of Heroes for Yankees parade

2009-11-06T12:38:49Z

This is going to be a big one. Oh, is it going to be a big one.

People have been lining the parade route for hours down on the Canyon of Heroes, getting ready on a cold day in New York to see their Yankees celebrate the 27th World Series championship. It's going to be windy, whipping all that confetti around and creating quite the spectacle.

"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," Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said.

Up in the Bronx, the Yankees and employees are boarding two dozens buses that will take them downtown via police escort for the start of the celebration, which begins on Broadway at Battery Place and continue northbound to Chambers Street, followed by a ceremony at City Hall Plaza, where the Mayor plans to present Joe Girardi's Yankees with keys to the city for their defeat of the Phillies in the six-game Fall Classic.

If I may take you off-site for a moment, here is a handy parade guide from the New York Daily News. Bundle up if you're going to be out along with three to four million of your best buddies, but savor this one, the Yankees' long-awaited first parade since 2000.

"New York has been hungry for a championship. We gave it to them," Alex Rodriguez said.

(Friendly reminder: I'll be tweeting from along the parade route, wherever I may wind up. Check that at http://www.twitter.com/bryanhoch.)

Celebrate!

2009-11-05T20:13:01Z

World Series Game 6: Yankees vs. Phillies

2009-11-05T00:54:16Z

Now that Mary J. Blige has completed her "Bleeding Gums Murphy" rendition of tonight's National Anthem... (points to anyone who gets that classic 'Simpsons' reference)

We're ready to go in the Bronx on a cool but clear night. The building is packed and this place is juiced with what should be a much different crowd than in Games 1 & 2. All that stands between the Yankees and World Series title No. 27 are the next 27 outs, and they'll look to Andy Pettitte to deliver the lion's share of those.

With "old goat" Pedro Martinez standing on the mound for Philadelphia in one of the most anticipated World Series games in recent memory, this could be the last night of the 2009 MLB season. I'm predicting it will be.

PHILLIES
Jimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Jayson Werth RF
Raul Ibanez DH
Pedro Feliz 3B
Ben Francisco LF
Carlos Ruiz C

Pitching: RHP Pedro Martinez (0-1, 2.08 ERA in postseason)

YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Brett Gardner CF

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (3-0, 3.24 ERA in postseason)

When to go to Mo?

2009-11-04T21:57:12Z

The Yankees think they have Mariano Rivera available for two innings of work tonight; can't see any reason why he wouldn't be. The big question is, when should Joe Girardi call down to the bullpen and get Rivera up in the event of an emergency?

Could 'Enter Sandman' be played as early as the seventh inning?

The answer, in a word, is yes. It would be a definite if this was Game 7, but Girardi is already thinking that he will be burning a lot of pitches out of his future Hall of Fame closer if the opportunity presents itself to lock down a World Series title tonight.

"The limit is more at pitches than innings for Mo," Girardi said. "We've got him up to 39, so we feel that we can go there again."

"Hopefully we don't need it," Rivera said of pitching three innings. "We have to do whatever it takes to win the game. I have to be ready."

Brief uniform note - check out this photo from yesterday's workout at the Stadium. When you're Mariano Rivera, you can wear the wrong jersey for batting practice and no one cares.

I asked Jerry Hairston, Jr. yesterday if there was anything he appreciated more about Rivera, seeing him from this side.

"He's a better shagger than I thought he'd be," Hairston said. "He loves playing center field. He thinks he's Bernie Williams or Willie Mays."

Scott Brosius to throw tonight's ceremonial first pitch

2009-11-04T21:47:53Z

Keeping with the dynasty Yankees theme, Scott Brosius will throw out tonight's ceremonial first pitch in Game 6 of the World Series, following up on tasks performed in Game 1 by Bernie Williams and in Game 2 by Paul O'Neill.

"It's really neat to see, because you don't get to see them a whole lot during the course of a year now. I love seeing them," Joe Girardi said.

Girardi was asked if having those retired players come out, one after another, at the Stadium makes him feel old.

"I don't need those guys to feel old," Girardi said. "I get reminded every day in my house how old I am."

27 outs to No. 27: Andy vs. Pedro

2009-11-04T18:11:14Z

Tonight brings us one of the most anticipated games of the season, and you really cannot script it any better than this. All that stands in the way of the Yankees winning their 27th World Series title is Pedro Martinez.

Andy Pettitte gets the ball tonight for the Yankees on three days rest in what Martinez called a matchup of a couple of "old goats."

The Yankees have all the faith in the world that their offense will get it done in the first couple of times through the order against Martinez, with Alex Rodriguez oh so close to his first World Series ring, Derek Jeter commanding the ship as usual and Mark Teixeira grinning despite hitting 2-for-19 thus far in the Fall Classic.

What's he got to smile about? Well, for one thing, all of the Yankees can breathe a sigh of relief that Mariano Rivera is still there to lock down any leads in the late innings. Rivera is almost certainly going to be asked to get more than three outs tonight if New York is up late - the question is, when will Joe Girardi push that button?

If it's the difference between going to Game 7 and putting a World Series trophy on George Steinbrenner's desk, expect Rivera to be called into action in the eighth inning and maybe even the seventh. There could be no tomorrow, so it is time to empty the tank.

World Series Game 5: Yankees at Phillies

2009-11-02T23:33:03Z

As the Yankees try to put away their 27th World Series championship and "Win One For the Boss," as the grounds crew t-shirts said at Yankee Stadium, there is a minor bit of news to report -- the Yankees have replaced Melky Cabrera on the World Series roster with Ramiro Pena, granted Major League Baseball's approval after Cabrera suffered a strained left hamstring in Game 4.

Should they polish this off, the Yankees will have employed three starters this postseason (Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte)...the last team to reach the World Series using only three postseason starters was the 1992 Braves (Maddux, Glavine, Avery)...the last to win the World Series using three postseason starters was the 1991 Twins (Morris, Tapani, Erickson).

New York has scored 15 combined runs over the last two games, marking their most runs in consecutive World Series games since posting 18 runs over Games 1 and 2 of the 1998 World Series vs. San Diego. And they are 8-0 in World Series play when taking a 3-games-to-1 lead, winning Game 5 six times. The Bombers have never gone to seven games in the World Series when taking such a lead, and they certainly don't intend to.

Here are the lineups for the potential clincher:

YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Brett Gardner CF
Jose Molina C
A.J. Burnett P

Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (1-0, 3.55 ERA in postseason)

PHILLIES
Jimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Jayson Werth RF
Raul Ibanez LF
Pedro Feliz 3B
Carlos Ruiz C
Cliff Lee P

Pitching: LHP Cliff Lee (3-0, 0.54 ERA in postseason)

MLB: Yanks can replace Melky with Pena

2009-11-02T22:50:41Z

Major League Baseball has approved the Yankees' request to replace the injured Melky Cabrera on the World Series roster with infielder Ramiro Pena.

The 25-year-old Cabrera suffered a slight strain of his left hamstring while running out a sixth-inning groundout in Game 4 of the Fall Classic on Sunday and manager Joe Girardi said he was "very limited" on Monday, as the Yankees look to defeat the Phillies and finalize their first title since 2000.

MLB postseason rules provide that injured players can be replaced during the World Series if the severity of the injury, as determined by MLB, is such that it would require a disabled list assignment during the regular season. Had this been the regular season, Girardi said that Cabrera would have been out of action for "maybe a couple of weeks."

"He had an outstanding year," Girardi said. "I thought he grew up a lot this year, he matured as a player and became dangerous from the right side as well as the left side. He did so many good things for us. He was the start of the walk-off hits, really. It's unfortunate."

Just one win away now

2009-11-02T21:19:32Z

The Yankees need just nine more innings of winning baseball to secure the 27th championship that Joe Girardi strapped on his back before the 2008 season, offering a daily reminder of the mission that this franchise has been assembled to compile.

And as the sun begins to set over Citizens Bank Park and the tickets for Game 5 of the World Series begin to flow toward the turnstiles, the Yankees' greatest challenge is to just take this like any other game.

"Our attitude is that the clincher is the same as the first game," Derek Jeter said. "You're just trying to win a game. You can't worry about what happens in the aftermath. The bottom line is that we need to come out here and play well."

He's right, of course. A.J. Burnett can't necessarily try any harder just because the champagne has been wheeled somewhere into the basement, and the Yankees still have a heap of work ahead of them with handling Cliff Lee this evening.

"It's great. I've waited a long time for it, and I'm going to take it full stride," Burnett said. "I'm going to go out there with everything I've got, and you take nothing for granted. I've seen some crazy things this post season, and I guess that's why they call it post season baseball, because anything can happen.

"But you've got a great lineup over there, and we're going up against Cliffy. So I'm just going to try to go pitch for pitch against him and keep our squad in it. But I'm looking forward to it and can't wait."

There is a vibe in the building that the Yankees could get it done tonight. Even the Philadelphia reporters are pressing Charlie Manuel and Shane Victorino in the interview room as though the World Series is already over.

It isn't, but the Yankees can get it there.

World Series Game 4: Yankees at Phillies

2009-11-02T01:15:26Z

Hello from Citizens Bank Park on a cool, clear night that is perfect for a little November baseball. We heard a few people talking about a full moon over Philadelphia tonight, and that might mean we're in for a little craziness as the Yankees and Phillies get set to play Game 4 of the World Series.

It seems like we might have a rowdy crowd on hand tonight, as today proved to be a great sports day out here with the Eagles playing the Giants across the street. A lot of fans are pulling off the gridiron/diamond doubleheader, and the beer was flowing out in the parking lot early this morning. That means that if the Yankees can put some runs on the board early, maybe they can take the crowd out of the equation, bringing on some droopy eyes.

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Melky Cabrera CF
CC Sabathia P

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (3-1, 1.57 ERA in postseason)

PHILLIES

Jimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Jayson Werth RF
Raul Ibanez LF
Pedro Feliz 3B
Carlos Ruiz C
Joe Blanton P

Pitching: RHP Joe Blanton (0-0, 4.66 ERA in postseason)

After six years, Matsui is finally back

2009-11-01T23:15:42Z

Hideki Matsui's first year with the Yankees was 2003, and though the Bombers lost in that World Series to the Marlins, the thought was that they'd be back time and time again as the seasons went on. Not so, as it turned out. It has taken until 2009, perhaps Matsui's final year in pinstripes, to get back to this point.

"Certainly, the frustration was there," Matsui said Sunday through an interpreter. "Any time you lose, it leaves a bitter feeling in your mouth. So not having been able to get back here to the World Series, and in addition to that, being that it's the goal that I strive for every year, certainly it was frustrating."

Matsui has been relegated to a pinch-hitter and emergency outfielder for these games in Philadelphia, though there was some thought to playing him out there. In the end, the Yankees looked at Matsui's balky knees and his rustiness playing the outfield before Game 3 and decided that Matsui would be on the bench.

"As far as how my knees feel, overall I feel pretty good," Matsui said. "As far as playing the outfield, there are certain factors that, I guess, are still unknown or untested. I haven't been in the outfield obviously, and the weather and so forth. But as far as how I feel, the knees feel good right now."

Everyone seems well aware of the idea that this could be Matsui's last turn in a Yankees uniform. Nobody knows for sure what the future holds, but the Yankees have internally considered the idea of a revolving-door DH position for next year, allowing players like Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to take turns.

What that means for Matsui remains to be seen. But if this is his final go-around, as he said in the first days of Spring Training, he would like to cap it with a World Series title.

Canned camera

2009-11-01T23:09:02Z

FOX has responded to that camera that was hanging over the right-field fence for Alex Rodriguez's home run last night, pushing it back so it no longer interferes with play.

Interestingly, neither Joe Girardi nor Charlie Manuel said they were aware of the ground rule that any ball striking the camera would have been a home run in Game 3. Neither Girardi nor Manuel took the lineup card to home plate, delegating those duties to Mick Kelleher and Pete Mackanin, respectively.

"I think it's kind of interesting where the camera is," Girardi said. "I'd be curious to see where it is today."

A-Rod's homer was the first instant replay-reviewed play in the World Series.

"Well, it's only fitting, right?" Rodriguez said. "I don't know if that's controversy with the replay. There is no controversy, so they had a good chance to see it in New York or wherever the headmaster is, I'm just glad we got a good ruling." .

"They got it right. That's the bottom line," Girardi said.

Swisher soaks in the World Series stage

2009-11-01T20:42:44Z

Nick Swisher finally had a World Series moment to smile about, and he was going to soak in every minute of it. When Swisher was led to the interview room last night, he pulled out his cell phone and began taking video of all the reporters assembled to ask him questions, saying that he wanted to remember this scene forever.

Here's some of what Swisher had to say about his 2-for-4 showing in Game 3, which he believes has turned his postseason around after entering the game 4-for-35 and benched in Game 2 for Jerry Hairston, Jr.:

"Well, I think tonight just really, really turned things around for me. You know, I mean, obviously this post season has been kind of a struggle for me, but I'll tell you what, I think the real thanks from me definitely goes to my teammates. My manager, those guys have never lost faith in me. And my family, they've been behind me this whole way. It's different. When you're in the post season and you're in New York, it's completely different than anywhere else I've ever been.

"It's nice to have a day like this, but it's just one game. I mean, right now we're sitting 2 1, and it's all about the team. We want to get this thing. Obviously coming here into a hostile crowd like tonight, it's great to definitely get a game here."

Here's the quick Q&A Swisher did with MLB.com a few minutes later.

Old buddies

2009-11-01T18:30:00Z

LHP Andy Pettitte, SS Derek Jeter and RHP Mariano Rivera all appeared in Saturday's Game 3 win at Philadelphia, 13 years after playing together for the first time in a World Series in 1996...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, it is the longest such span for any trio of teammates in Series history...

Prior to 2009, the trios with the longest spans between World Series as teammates bookended their appearances with different teams: Nippy Jones, Del Rice and Red Schoendienst (1946 Cardinals and 1957 Braves); Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and Pete Rose (1972 Reds and 1983 Phillies).

Here are some more notes from the Yankees today:

BY COMPARISON: The Yankees have outscored opponents 60-37 this postseason, hitting .254 (107-for-422) with 19HR...opponents have batted .237 (101-for-426) with 8HR...Yankees pitchers own a 2.83 ERA (114.2IP, 36ER) while their opponents have a 4.32 mark (110.1IP, 53ER).

JETER METER: SS Derek Jeter has reached base in all 12 games this postseason, hitting safely in 11 of the contests and scoring at least one run in nine of the games.

START ME UP: Yankees starters are 7-1 with a 2.70 ERA (80.0IP, 24ER) in the 2009 playoffs...opponents are batting just .211 (61-for-289) off Yankees starters, with 80K and 24BB ...have allowed 3ER or less in 21 of their last 24 games since 9/21, including 10 of 12 playoff contests...have held the opposition to 1ER or less in seven of the '09 playoff games.

IN A PINCH: With his eighth-inning pinch-hit HR in Saturday's Game 3 win, Hideki Matsui became the eighth Yankee to hit a pinch-hit HR in a World Series gamem and first since Jason Giambi on 10/23/03 at FLA in the Game 5 loss...Matsui batted .381 (8-for-21) with 2 doubles, 1HR and 4RBI as a pinch-hitter during the 2009 regular season.

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY: With the start of Saturday's game delayed by rain, the Yankees have now endured 18 rain delays in 2009 (including the playoffs), for a total of 26 hours and 41 minutes lost to Mother Nature this season...in addition, have had four games - including Game 6 of the ALCS - postponed due to rain.

MO' OF THE SAME: RHP Mariano Rivera made his 22nd career World Series appearance in Saturday's Game 3 win, tying Whitey Ford for the most all time...with his Game 2 save on Thursday, Rivera became the second-oldest pitcher ever to record a WS save behind Baltimore's Dick Hall (1970 at age 40 and 1971 at age 41)., according to Retrosheet's Dave Smith.

A-Rod's first World Series hit woke up the Yankees

2009-11-01T05:36:17Z

Highlights (and video!) of Alex Rodriguez's interview room session following Game 3:

Q. I assume obviously every time you come up you want it, but how much did you finally want to get that first hit in the World Series?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: It's obviously nice to get it out of the way. It's like the first hit I got this year in the post season against Minnesota. That got me going a little bit. Over all the game plan is simple swing at strikes. If I swing at strikes, I can do a lot better.

Q. After the first turn through the order against Hamels, what were the hitters talking about as a group? Did you guys think you were able to get to

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: Offense is all about one thing, swinging at strikes. That's what Kevin Long advocates all the time going back to Spring Training, not trying to do too much. A walk is as good as a hit, and be patient. Wear him down a little bit. Make him make some tough, tough pitches to get us out.

Q. This first World Series, is it what you expected, or is it more than what you expected considering the relationship with the fans and your teammates and everything else?

ALEX RODRIGUEZ: You know, overall, I think after I got that first hit against Minnesota to be quite honest, I started feeling a lot more comfortable, and then the hits kept on coming and we kept winning. I think overall it's been a good experience so far. Again, the thing I go back to is keeping things very simple and swinging at strikes and trying to do little things.