Our Top 10 Stadium Moments

We'll say from 1968 - forward since that's when we started to become cognizant of what was going on. This was not easy and some of these are interchangeable.

10. June 17, 1978 - Ron Guidry strikes out 18 California Angels. The beginning of fans clapping when an opponent had 2 strikes.

9. ALCS Game 3 - Yankees ruin another Red Sox post-season. Aaron Boone becomes aligned with Bucky Dent.

8. September 24, 2001 - Yankee Stadium is the site of an inter-faith memorial for the tragic occurrences of 9/11.

7. July 4, 1983 - Dave Righetti throws a 4th of July no-hitter against the Red Sox. It's also George Steinbrenner's birthday. Game ends when Rags strikes out Wade Boggs for the third time.

6. August 6, 1979 - Bobby Murcer drives in 5 runs for his fallen brother Thurman Munson on the day of the Captain's funeral.

5. May 25, 1998 and July 18, 1999 - Perfect games by David Wells and David Cone.

4. 2001 Games 4 and 5 of the World Series - Unbelievable 9th inning comebacks on home runs by Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius.

3. 1996 World Series Game 6 - We finally had attained a World Series championship after 18 years.

2. 1977 World Series Game 6 - Reggie Jackson takes 3 swings and hits 3 home runs. The Yankees win their first World Series in 15 years.

1. 1976 ALCS Game 5 - Chris Chambliss finally gets us to the promised land with a dramatic home run.

Share

The Plaques

Share

Got 10 Grand Laying Around?

If you do have that money under your mattress or taking up room in the Caymans, you can be manning the hot corner at Yankee Stadium, or squatting behind home plate, or digging in against a major league fastball. No, the money is not to pay for some hallucinogenic drug. $10,000 will enable you and 29 other people who have that tip money laying around to participate in a fantasy camp at Yankee Stadium.

That's right, on either August 4 or 5, you can attend the Yankees Alumni fantasy camp right in the incredible confines of Yankee Stadium. Have we told you it's 10 GRAND?

So while the Yankees pocket 300 grand, you get to mingle with the likes of Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, Bucky Dent, Mickey Rivers, Homer Bush, Graeme Lloyd, Pat Kelly, John Flaherty, Jeff Nelson, Ron Blomberg, Johnny Blanchard, Jesse Barfield, and Tim Raines.

Oh and you even get to meet Mr. Fivehead himself, Michael Kay. Now that's not a bad collection of talent. A Hall of Fame member (Gossage), a pitcher who had one of the greatest single seasons in baseball history (Guidry), another potential famer (Raines), a member of the '61 Yankees (Blanchard), and Bucky "Fucking" Dent".

No Reggie, Winfield, Whitey, Yogi..okay you get the idea. But still not a bad collection. Oh, one other thing. You must be at least 30, so all of you spoiled brats who were already counting on taking Dad's Beamer to the Bronx, you're out of luck.

Pinstripe Events has all the details.

Share

Wang Confident for Opening Day

Our boy "The Wanger", Chien-Ming Wang had, to put it politely, a miserable post-season. He hasn't exactly had the best spring training either. But after yesterday's 5 inning, 4 run performance, he felt confident as he prepares for his opening day start on Monday. And his manager Joe Girardi felt it was his best appearance of the spring.

Fair enough. Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez both blew double play balls that would have meant just a 1 run inning instead of 4 runs. And all the runs were earned since you can't assume double plays.

Wang has tried some new things this spring, including a new change up and came out of yesterday's game realizing he has to throw inside more on hitters so they're not so comfortable up there.

It used to be we didn't worry about The Wanger at all. But we are a bit worried at the moment. Wang has always been a cool customer. He seemed to effortlessly win 8 games in 17 rookie starts and followed that up with a fabulous 19 win season in 2006.

But even though he won 19 games last year, Wang struggled at times, especially in the second half. His two playoff appearances, were to put it politely, awful. (It also makes a question Ron Guidry's ability to help a pitcher make adjustments). Wang has always been a cool customer. "He just never gets rattled", were words often used by Joe Torre.

But after getting thrashed by the Blue Jays for 8 runs in 2.2 innings last August, Wang was clearly rattled. He was 6-1, 3.15 w/ 2 no decisions the rest of the way, but he struggled with his control, walking 3 or more batters in 5 of those last 9 starts. The 3.15 ERA was a bit misleading too as he escaped a lot of jams and went long in a lot of counts.

We've always felt confident in The Wanger, but we are concerned. It is tempered a bit though by having Dave Eiland as the pitching coach. He seems to be able to quickly recognize issues as he did earlier this spring after Wang didn't make it out of the 1st inning against the Reds.

Hopefully the real Wanger is here all year. The Yankees NEED him.

Share

The Daily Yankeeland

Mike Stanton was prominently mentioned in the Mitchell Report and also had his name come up last week at the Congressional Dog and Pony show. It was Stanton who reportedly mentioned to Roger Clemens that he was bleeding through his pants, reportedly from a steroid injection that Brian McNamee had given him.

Stanton is trying to make the Reds bullpen and he was questioned by reporters yesterday about his involvement. He quickly pulled out the "no comment".

"Officially, I've been advised not to make any comments," the 40-year-old reliever said before the Reds' first workout of the spring for pitchers and catchers.

Was that by a lawyer or an agent?

"That's all I have to say," Stanton added.

Stanton had no problem talking about his good buddy and fellow Bible toting pitcher, Andy Pettitte.

"Being Christians, believing in the Lord, doesn't change the fact that we're all still human, that we all still make mistakes, that we all still have bad judgment occasionally," Stanton said. "Where we're going for eternity doesn't change that fact. So like he said in his interview with Congress, one of the reasons he did what he did was to make himself right with the Lord."

Get off your high horse there Mikey.

* * *

We're still pissed off that Morgan Ensberg was given #21. Yes, Paulie has said he doesn't want a day honoring him and the Yankees are running out of numbers, but C'MON!

* * *

King George arrived at camp yesterday and held a meeting with Joe Girardi, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, and Rob Thompson. One can only wonder why it was that combination of people.

* * *

Funny moment for Joe Girardi yesterday. With reporters present, the landline phone rang in the new skip's office. Only Girardi couldn't figure out which buttons to push to answer the phone.

Share

Day 4 Photos

Enter Sandman

Old and new pitching coaches watch Joba

Shelley Duncan shares a laugh with the newest hall of famer

Lefty contender Billy Traber

Godzilla

Edwar "K-Ram" Ramirez signs autographs

Jazz Hands

Farnsworth, Andrew Brackman, and IPK stretch

Plenty of relaxation in Feb.

New Joe watches Moose warm up

Godzilla signs autographs

Share

The Daily Yankeeland

It's Monday right? With holidays and weekends interspersed, it's hard to keep track of what day it is. As we previously said with the MLB offices closed until after the new year. There have been a few minor transaction. So Taguchi reached terms with the Phillies. Cliff Politte did the same with the Cardinals. And for some reason David Ortiz doesn't think the Red Sox will get Johan Santana- whatever that's worth. Theo pays you to hit Papi, not think.

Ron Guidry is waiting for a job offer, and even a call by the Yankees to be in spring training. So far he's heard nothing. Not the way to treat a guy who has always brought class to the organization and epitomized what it meant to wear the pinstripes.

We showed you Roger Clemens' video yesterday and mentioned his upcoming 60 Minutes Piece. The Daily News' John Harper thinks it's all going to be a disastrous PR onslaught.

Time to take a look at what's going on in some other Yankee blogs. Peter Abraham, always witty, has a spoof of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas".

Sliding into Home as some new pics of the new stadium construction. The photo of the current and new buildings, side-by-side, is quite eerie.

In case you're still shopping for Xmas gifts, the Yankees Chick has some unusual Yankees oriented ideas for you.

My Internet son over at Scott Proctor's arm has a look at Festivus gifts for the Yankees.

Share

Gator Gone?

The NY Daily News is reporting that Larry Bowa and Tony Pena will remain in their current positions should Joe Torre come back as manager. However, it appears that Ron Guidry will get the axe as pitching coach. We can't honestly say whether or not Gator is doing a good job (we are more than amused at some fans reactions who think he is clueless. How do they have any idea?), but it's tough to see because of his link to the past and his love of the Yankees organization. That being said it looks like Dave Eiland would take over as pitching coach and he has done a wonderful job with the Yankees youngsters at the minor league level.

Source

Share

Rags and Gator

The Yankees visit to San Fran this past weekend gave old friends Ron Guidry and Dave Righetti a chance to catch up. YES' Michael Kay got the chance to talk to the great lefthanders turned pitching coaches. Righetti and Guidry

Share