The Daily Yankeeland - 11/21

It's a TGIF edition of The Daily Yankeeland. We can't wait to go home. Speaking of homes, the Yankees' new one is nearly ready. Workers are feverishly going at it so the players and front office will have access to the new digs beginning February 17.

Infield grass was trimmed this week, the dirt turned over. Almost all of the seats have been installed. Overall the new place is nearly 90% complete.

Goodbye to You
One of our faves, Mike Vaccaro, has his take on King George's departure.

Goodbye to You II
Nice piece in today's Ledger from another of our faves, Dan Graziano, on the retirement of Mike Mussina.

The Captain, Derek Jeter released an official statement (posted here via Pete Abraham):

“It was a great pleasure playing against – and even more so with – Mike Mussina since I entered the league in 1995. He was a true professional both on and off the field. Moose’s accomplishments in the game over the last 18 years represent a Hall of Fame player.”

Show Me the Money
Hal Steinbrenner may not be the mouthpiece his brother Hank is, but he has made sure that everyone knows the Yankees will not wait forever for CC Sabathia to accept or reject the Yankees contract offer.

Man Up
The Yankees have added Anthony Claggett, Christian Garcia, Steven Jackson, and Michael Dunn to their 40-man roster, to protect them from December's Rule V Draft. It does mean that players like Alan Horne, Kevin Whelan, and J.B. Cox can be selected, though they would have to remain on a team's MLB roster for an entire year or the Yankees would have the opportunity to get them back.

Like a Rock
Former Yankee, Tim "Rock" Raines has been named the manager of the newly re-formed (Atlantic League) Newark Bears.

Make Room for Daddy
Brett Gardner and his wife Jessica welcomed their first child, a boy named Hunter, into the world on Wednesday.

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Minor League Recap - 7/1

Games of 6/30

Scranton rallied in the 9th inning for 5-4 win, to salvage the finale of their 4-game series with the Buffalo Bisons. After a walk to Cody Ransom and a single by Eric Duncan, J.D. Closser hit a game tying 3-run home run, his first long ball of the year. Nick Green followed with a walk and moved to 3rd base on Greg Porter's single. Chris Basak's fly ball to right brought home Green with the game winner.

Dan McCutchen was outstanding in his start for the Yankees, allowing 1 run on 6 hits over 6 innings. He also struck out 5. Kei Igawa gave up the 3 runs in the 7th, but was still around in the 9th to pick up the win.

Chad Jennings has more on McCutchen's start and has an update on Alan Horne.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Buffalo 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 9 0 Scranton/WB 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 9 0 Recap | Box | W: K. Igawa (8-4, 3.64); L: J. Stevens (0-1, 5.40) HR: SWB: J. Lane (14), J. Closser (1).

Trenton made it three in a row over the Portland SeaDogs behind another big time effort from Eric Hacker. The right-hander allowed 1 run over 7 innings, scattered 6 hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out 3. He improved to 3-1 to go along with a 1.85 ERA. In 92 innings, between Tampa and Trenton, Hacker has allowed just 19 earned runs. Austin Jackson and Reegie Corona belted solo home runs for the Thunder.

Mike Ashmore has some notes on player comings and goings.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Portland 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 Trenton 1 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 X 6 11 0 Recap | Box | W: E. Hacker (3-1, 1.85); L: D. Gassner (0-4, 6.75) HR: TRE: A. Jackson (8), R. Corona (2).

The Tampa Yankees lost a tough one to the Palm Beach Cardinals 4-3. Starter Mike Dunn was charged with 3 runs in 5 innings, and a Yankees late rally fell short. Jose Gil was 4-4 and drove in a pair of runs to lead the Tampa offense.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Tampa 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 1 Palm Beach 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 X 4 7 1 Recap | Box | W: T. Norrick (1-1, 8.53); L: M. Dunn (3-4, 4.24); SV: F. Samuel (16) HR: PBC: L. Gorsett (2).

Jairo Heredia limited the Savannah Sand Gnats to 2 hits over 7 innings as the Charleston RiverDogs won their third straight, 5-3. Heredia allowed 1 unearned run and struck out 6 to improve to 3-2. Austin Romine and Brandon Laird both went deep.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Savannah 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 3 0 Charleston 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 X 5 8 2 Recap | Box | W: J. Heredia (3-2, 2.96); L: B. Rustich (1-4, 5.33) HR: SAV: J. Jimenez (8). CHA: B. Laird (8), A. Romine (2).

Staten Island won a pair of games with the Aberdeen IronBirds last evening. The Baby Bombers won the conclusion of Sunday's game, which had been suspended in the 2nd inning, 5-3. The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 8th when Jahdiel Santamaria singled in the go ahead run. Melky Mesa, who had earlier homered, added an insurance tally with an RBI single of his own. Walter Ibarra, who had just been sent down from Charleston, homered for the Yankees as well.

	June 29, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Aberdeen 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 6 0 Staten Island 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 X 5 9 2 Recap | Box W: J. Gonell (2-1, 3.38); L: H. Williamson (0-1, 5.79); SV: P. Venditte (3) HR: STA: M. Mesa (2), W. Ibarra (1).

S.I. made his 3 straight over the IronBirds with a supberly pitched 3-0 win. Dave Phelps won his first game of the year after allowing just 3 hits over 6 innings. He walked just 1 and struck out 6. Josue Selenes picked up his first save with a scoreless 9th.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Aberdeen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 Staten Island 0 0 0 0 3 0 X 3 5 0 Recap | Box W: D. Phelps (1-0, 2.77); L: P. Egan (0-1, 2.30); SV: J. Selenes (1) HR: None.

The GCL Yankees were knocked around by the GCL Braves, 10-3, as Dellin Betances had another rough rehab outing. Betances was charged with 4 runs, 3 of them earned, on 8 hits in 2.1 innings pitched. Tough rehab assignment for Ryan Pope too, as he allowed 5 runs in 4 innings.

June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E GCL Braves 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 4 0 10 15 3 GCL Yankees 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 4 3 Recap | Box W: E. Spruill (1-0, 2.57); L: D. Betances (0-1, 8.53) HR: BRA: R. Brooks (1).

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Minor League Weekend Recap - 6/30

Games of 6/28, 6/29

It was a tough weekend for the Scranton Yankees as they were swept by the Buffalo Bisons in a 3-game series. Jason Jones made a great Triple-A debut on Saturday, allowing just 1 hit over 5 innings while striking out 7. But the Yankees bats were silenced by veteran Matt Ginter and Brian Slocum who allowed just 1-hit in the Bisons 3-0 win.

J.B. Cox was roughed up for 2 runs in just two-thirds of an inning and took the loss. J.D. Closser had the lone Scranton hit.

	June 28, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Scranton/WB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Buffalo 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 X 3 6 1 Recap | Box | W: M. Ginter (6-6, 4.13); L: J. Cox (2-2, 1.80); SV: B. Slocum (1) HR: BUF: J. Cooper (9).

Sunday was no better, primarily because starter Alan Horne had to leave the after just two-thirds of inning. Chad Jennings reports that Horne complained of feeling no strength in his pitching arm.

“It was almost like I couldn’t get the ball there," he said. "It didn’t matter what I tried to do. I’d try to add something to it and it seemed like the harder I tried to throw it, the less effective it would be. My breaking stuff was just as slow and loopy as I think I’ve ever thrown it, and I can’t tell you why. Physically I’m fine. They came out there and checked me out and I said, ‘Nothing hurts. I just feel dead. My arm especially. It’s like I have no life, no drive through anything.’ ”

“I was really excited going in,” he said. “Just warming up, it didn’t feel that great -- no pain or anything like that -- I just figured once we got into the game everything would step up and be fine. It’s almost like I took a step backward. I was really excited and this is about as frustrating as it could have gone.”

“I was really excited going in,” he said. “Just warming up, it didn’t feel that great -- no pain or anything like that -- I just figured once we got into the game everything would step up and be fine. It’s almost like I took a step backward. I was really excited and this is about as frustrating as it could have gone.”

Horne said he's hoping his arm is simply going through a slight dead period after the extensive rehab work he did in Tampa. He's planning to throw on the side tomorrow and prepare for his next regularly scheduled start. As for shaking his arm throughout the start, Horne said it had nothing to do with aches and pains.

“It wasn’t hurt, I was just trying to get it going,” Horne said. “No pain or anything, it’s just like there’s nothing there. I’m just trying to get it to wake up, or whatever you do.”

Horne said that he did strength tests after the game and was told his shoulder was strong and healthy. You hear people talk about a "dead arm," and maybe that's what Horne's going through right now. It's weird to say the least. As Horne said after the game, he's using the word "frustrated" way too often lately.

Buffalo went on to a 7-5 win despite 2-run home runs from Bernie Castro and Cody Ransom.

	June 29, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Scranton/WB 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 5 6 0 Buffalo 2 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 X 7 6 2 Recap | Box | W: J. Halama (4-1, 4.80); L: B. Traber (2-1, 4.85); SV: J. Lewis (1) HR: SWB: C. Ransom (13), B. Castro (1). BUF: J. Brown (3).

After losing the opener on Friday, Trenton took a pair of games from the Portland SeaDogs over the weekend to take the series. Oddly the teams play another series right away, this time at Trenton. On Saturday, the Thunder came back from a 4-1 deficit after Chase Wright was knocked around. Anthony Claggett tossed 3.2 scoreless innings to allow Trenton to get back in the ball game. Carlos Mendoza drove in 3 runs, including a pair in the game winning 8th inning rally, and Colin Curtis added a solo home run.

	June 28, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Trenton 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 3 0 7 9 3 Portland 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 12 1 Recap | Box | W: Z. Kroenke (4-0, 4.10); L: C. Rhoades (2-2, 4.89); SV: B. Hall (2) HR: TRE: C. Curtis (5).

The Thunder romped on Sunday, breaking the game open with a 5-run 9th inning for an 8-2 win. Jose Tabata drove in 4 runs, 3 of them on this 3rd home run of the season. Edwar Gonzalez added 3 RBI, including a 2-run home run of his own. Phil Coke allowed 1 earned run over 6 innings to pick up the win.

	June 29, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Trenton 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 5 8 12 2 Portland 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 8 1 Recap | Box | W: P. Coke (6-3, 3.09); L: M. Bowden (7-4, 2.48); SV: S. Jackson (2) HR: TRE: E. Gonzalez (5), J. Tabata (3).

Thunder beat writer Mike Ashmore recently spoke with hitting coach Tom Wilson about Jose Tabata and Austin Jackson.

Ian Kennedy made a rehab start at Tampa on Saturday, allowing 2 hits and a walk in 5 shutout innings. He also struck out 4. Ivan Nova followed that up with 3 solid innings, but the Palm Beach Cardinals beat the Yankees 1-0.

	June 28, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Tampa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Palm Beach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 X 1 4 1 Recap | Box | W: B. Dickson (6-5, 3.12); L: I. Nova (3-9, 5.10); SV: F. Samuel (15) HR: None.

Tampa rolled on Sunday 7-1 behind 6.2 innings of 1-run ball thrown by Zach McCallister (3-3). Kevin Smith enjoyed a 3-hit, 3 RBI day, while Mitch Hilligoss set the table with a hit and 3 walks. He scored 3 of the 7 Yankees runs.

	June 29, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Tampa 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 7 11 0 Palm Beach 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 9 1 Recap | Box | W: Z. McAllister (3-3, 2.52); L: B. Furnish (7-4, 3.99) HR: None.

The Charleston RiverDogs and the Savannah Sand Gnats began a 4-game series with the RiverDogs taking a weekend pair. Jesus Montero drove in a pair of runs as the Dogs held on a 4-3 win on Saturday. Noel Castillo allowed a run on 3 hits over 6 innings for the win. Jon Hovis picked up his 21st save with 3 strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched.

	June 28, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Charleston 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 0 Savannah 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 8 1 Recap | Box | W: N. Castillo (7-4, 3.43); L: N. Carr (1-2, 3.33); SV: J. Ortiz (21) HR: None.

Charleston pulled out another 1-run ball game on Sunday, 3-2. Jesse Hoover pitcher 3.2 scoreless innings out of the pen to pick up the win, while Chase Vacek earned his 6th save. Abe Almonte was 3-5 with a pair of doubles and a run scored, while Carmen Angelini was 4-4 with an RBI.

	June 29, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Charleston 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 12 1 Savannah 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 12 0 Recap | Box | W: J. Hoover (4-3, 2.98); L: M. Cleto (2-6, 3.49); SV: C. Vacek (6) HR: None.

Staten Island lost the rubber game of their series, with the Hudson Valley Renegades, on Saturday, 3-1. Luke Greinke didn't figure in the decision, but was outstanding in his second start, allowing 1 hit over 5 scoreless innings. Mike Lyon had 2 hits and drove in the lone Baby Bombers run.

	June 28, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Staten Island 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 2 Hudson Valley 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 X 3 8 1 Recap | Box | W: F. De Los Santos (2-1, 2.12); L: J. Kiley (0-1, 3.38); SV: J. Baird (2) HR: None.

The RiverDogs have also added 2 pitchers, Nick Asselin and Dan Kapala, from the GCL Yankees roster as the team is need of some fresh arms. To make room, the RiverDogs have temporarily sent Craig Heyer and Ryan Zink to the GCL.

Staten Island started a series with the Aberdeen IronBirds on Sunday, but the game was suspended in the 2nd inning. It will be completed prior to tonight's regularly scheduled game. Infielder Walter Ibarra has been sent down from Charleston to the S.I. roster.

Dickson Marquez allowed 3 runs on 7 hits in 4.2 innings pitched as the GCL Yankees lost 6-1 to the GCL Braves on Saturday. The Yankees had just 4 hits, one of them by Zoilo Almonte, who scored the lone Yankees run.

	June 28, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E GCL Yankees 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 1 GCL Braves 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 X 6 12 0 Recap | Box W: C. Hung (1-0, 1.50); L: D. Marquez (0-1, 4.00) HR: BRA: D. Elorriaga-Matra (1).

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