Thursday, December 15, 2011

YANKEES BY THE NICK-NAMES (I) by Harvey Frommer

YANKEES BY THE NICK-NAMES (I)
 With the hot stove baseball season in full swing, fans are eagerly awaiting the next one still many months away. Some have moved over to follow other sports. Some Yankee fans scour the news for free agent and trade rumors and moves. Others read Yankee books. Still others soak up what they can of Yankee history, trivia, oddities. For the "still others," this partial list of New York Yankee nick-names is for you.
 Babe Ruth leads the pack in the number of nick-names attached to him.  First called "Babe" by teammates on the Baltimore Orioles, his first professional team because of his youth, G.H.Ruth was also called "Jidge" by Yankee teammates, short for George.   Opponents referred to him negatively as "The Big Monk" and "Monkey." He was also called "Two Head"  negative nick-name used by opponents to describe the size of his head which seemed very huge  to some.
 Sports writers glamorizing the big guy came up with these monikers: "The Bambino", "the Wali of Wallop", "the Rajah of Rap", "the Caliph of Clout", "the Wazir of Wham", and "the Sultan of Swat",  The Colossus of Clout,  Maharajah of Mash,  The Behemoth of Bust, "The King of Clout."
 Other Yankee nick-names, expressions, bon mots that caught on through the decades include: 
"Root" ­ Owner Jake Ruppert's mispronunciation of Babe Ruth's name.
"Babe Ruth's Legs" - Sammy Byrd, used was employed as pinch runner for Ruth.
"Bam-Bam" - Hensley Meulens could speak about five languages. His name was challenging to pronounce.
     "Biscuit Pants" - A reference to the way Lou Gehrig filled out trousers.
    "Billyball" - the aggressive style of play favored by Billy Martin.
      "Blind Ryne" - Ryne Duren's vision, uncorrected -20/70 and 20/200.
     "Bob the Gob" - Bob Shawkey in 1918 served in the Navy as a yeoman petty officer. 
   "Brooklyn Schoolboy" - Waite Hoyt had starred at Brooklyn's Erasmus High School.
     "Bulldog" - Jim Bouton was dogged.
     Bye-Bye"- Steve Balboni, the primary DH of the 1990 Yankees,  17 homers but .192 BA.
    "Chairman of the Board" - Elston Howard coined it for Whitey Ford and his commanding and take charge manner on the mound.
  "Commerce Comet" - Mickey Mantle, out of Commerce, Oklahoma.
 "Georgia Catfish" - Jim Hunter, name given to him by Oakland owner Charles Finley, shortened to just "Catfish."
""the CAT-a-lyst" -  Mickey Rivers given this name by Howard Cosell. 
  "The Count" - Sparky Lyle, handlebar mustache and lordly ways
"The Crow" - Frank Crosetti loud voice and chirpy ways.
"Daddy Longlegs" - Dave Winfield, for his size and long legs.
"Death Valley" - the old deep centerfield in Yankee Stadium.
"Dial-a-Deal - Gabe Paul, for his telephone trading habits.
"Donnie Baseball" - Don Mattingly was the only player in any sport to have a nickname with the actual name of his or her sport in it.
"Ellie"   - affectionate abbreviation of Elston Howard's first name     
"Father of the Emory Ball" - Rookie right-hander Russ Ford posted a 26-6 record with 8 shutouts, 1910, using that pitch.
 Flash" - Joe Gordon was fast, slick fielding and hit line drives.
Four hour manager" - Bucky Harris, who put his time in at the game and was finished.
"Fordham Johnny" - for the college Johnny Murphy attended.
"Gator" - Ron Guidry came from Louisiana alligator country.
"Gay Reliever" -   Joe Page for his night owl activity.
"Goofy" or "El Goofo" - earned by Lefty Gomez for his wild antics
"The Great Agitator" - for Billy Martin, self explanatory.
"Horse Nose" - Pat Collins via  Babe Ruth, a reference to a facial feature.
  "Home Run Twins" (also "M & M Boys") - Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, phrase coined in 1961.
"Iron Horse" - Lou Gehrig, for his power and steadiness.
"Joltin' Joe" - Joe DiMaggio, for the jolting shots he hit.
"Jumping Joe" - Joe Dugan, for being AWOL from his first big league club as a youngster.
"Junk Man" - Eddie Lopat, for frustrating hitters and keeping them off stride with an assortment of slow breaking pitches thrown with cunning and accuracy.
"Kentucky Colonel" - Earl Combs, for his Kentucky roots.
"The King and the Crown Prince" - Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, self evident.
"King Kong" -  Charlie Keller, for his muscular body type and black, bushy brows.
"Knight of Kennett Square" - Herb Pennock, for his raising of thoroughbreds and hosting of fox hunts in his home town of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
"Knucksie" - Phil Niekro, for his knuckleball.
"Lonesome George" - George Weiss, for his aloof ways.
"Lou'siana Lightnin'" - Ron Guidry, for his fastball and the state he came from.
"Mail Carrier "- Earle Combs, for his speed and base stealing skills.
 "Major" - Ralph Houk, for rank held in the Armed Forces and demeanor.
 "Man of a Thousand Curves" ­ for Johnny Sain and his assortment of curve balls.
"Marse Joe" - Joe McCarthy, for his commanding style.
"Master Builder in Baseball" - Jacob Ruppert, and that he was.
"The Merry Mortician" -Waite Hoyt, for his cheery soul and off-season mortician work.
"Man in the Iron Hat" - Captain Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Hutson, for the same squashed derby hat he wore over and over again.
"Man nobody knows" - Bill Dickey, for his blandness.
"Mighty Mite" - Miller Huggins, for his size and power.
"Milkman" - Jim Turner, for an off-season job delivering milk.
"Mr. Automatic" - Mariano Rivera, for his virtually unflappable behavior and special skills as a Yankee stopper.
"Mr. May" - George Steinbrenner's sarcastic jibe at Dave Winfield because of his postseason struggles as compared to Reggie Jackson's successes and Mr. October nick-name.
"Mr. November" - Derek Jeter, for his World Series home run, the first of November, 2001.
"Mr. October" - In Game Five of the 1977 ALCS Billy Martin benched Reggie Jackson. In a comeback win against Kansas City Jackson returned to slap a single. Thurman Munson sarcastically called Jackson "Mr. October."  
"Moose" - Bill Skowron's, grandfather called him Mussolini because of a resemblance to Mussolini. As the story goes, the family shortened the nickname to "Moose."
"Murderer's Row" - Yankee lineup boasting powerful batters: standard version was the meat of the 1927 lineup of Tony Lazzeri, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Earl Combs and Bob Meusel.    Backup version was the 1919 entry of Ping Bodie, Roger Peckinpaugh, Duffy Lewis and Home Run Baker.
"My writers" - Casey Stengel's phrase for journalists he was close to.
"Nightrider" - Don Larsen called himself that because it reminded him of comic books heroes he read about and it fit with his late-night bar wanderings.
"Old Reliable" - Mel Allen gave Tommy Henrich that nickname after a train that made its way from Cincinnati through Allen's home state of Alabama and was always on time and could be depended on. Henrich was also called "The Great Debater" for his sometimes loquacious and argumentative ways.
"Ole Perfessor" -  Casey Stengel, for the time in 1914 when he had a spring training baseball coaching stint at the University of Mississippi.
"The Peerless Leader" - Frank Chance, for his keen baseball mind.
"Poosh 'em up, Tony" - Tony Lazzeri  was a magnet for Italian fans at Yankee Stadium who would scream out this phrase urging him to hit home runs.
 "Prince Hal" - Hal Chase, for his charismatic, elegant, royal quality. "The Principal Owner" - George Steinbrenner, no doubt here.
"Push Button Manager" - Joe McCarthy, for his by the book ways.
"Ragin' Cajun" -  Ron Guidry, for his Louisiana roots and fire.
"Rags" - Dave Righetti, abbreviation of his name
"Ruppert Rifles" - The Yankees, during Jake Ruppert's tenure.
"Sailor Bob" - Bob Shawkey, for his time spent mostly in 1918 in the Navy as a yeoman petty officer aboard the battleship Arkansas.
"Schoolboy" and  "Schoolboy Wonder" - Waite Hoyt, for his major league debut in 1918 when he was a teen ager. 
"Scooter"-  Nick-name for Phil Rizzuto coined by Mel Allen. "When Mel saw me run, he said: 'Man, you are not running, you're scootin'.  "And from scootin' I got "Scooter."
"Second Place Joe" - Joe McCarthy's three straight second-place finishes prompted this tag in the three seasons before the Yanks won four consecutive world championships, 1936-39. The name was also used when he was manager of the Cubs and had some disappointing second place finishes.
 "Silent Bob" - Bob Meusel, for his aloofness.
"Silent One" - Chris Chambliss, for his taciturn manner, name given by Howard Cosell.
"Solid citizens"- Name Joe McCarthy gave to players he relied on.
"Slick" - Whitey Ford used a spitter to strike out Willie Mays in the 1964 All-Star Game. That was just one of the reasons for the Yankee star's nick-name.
"Slow" - Joe Doyle, for his time consuming pace.
"Smash" - Gil McDougald, for the verve of his personality.
"Springfield Rifle" - Vic Raschi, after his arm and his birthplace in Springfield, Massachusetts.
"Spud" - Spurgeon Ferdinand Chandler was called that,easier for everyone.  
"Squire (or Knight) of Kennett Square" - Herb Pennock came from historic Kennett Square, PA an area of horsemen and fox hunters. Pennock himself was an expert rider and a master of hounds.
"Steady Eddie" - Eddie Lopat, for his consistency year after year as a Yankee pitcher, nick-name originated with Mel Allen.
"Stick" - Gene Michael, for his lean and long appearance.
"Superchief"  Allie Reynolds, for his one-quarter Creek Indian ancestry and winning ways on the mound.
 "Supersub" - Johnny Blanchard, home run hitter as a pinch hitter,. extraordinaire.   
"The Switcher" - Mickey Mantle, for switch-hitting par excellence.  
"T.J." - Tommy John.
"Tanglefoot Lou" - For Lou Gehrig, early days and fielding trials as a player.
"The Tabasco Kid" - Norman Arthur Elberfeld, for his liking of the stuff and his personality.
"Three Million Dollar Man" - Nick-name placed on Catfish Hunter when he signed with the Yankees as a free agent for that sum in 1974.
"Twinkletoes" - George Selkirk, for his running with his weight on the balls of his feet. 
"The Unholy Trio" - Billy Martin, Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford, for their devilish ways.
"The Weatherman" - Mickey Rivers, for his knack for predicting weather.
"The Warrior" - Paul O'Neill, name pinned on him by George Steinbrenner for the outfielder's pugnacious ways.
"The White Gorilla" - Goose Gossage, for the way he looked.
"Whitey" - Whitey Ford, for the tow head blonde hair he sported as a 50s hurler.
"Window breakers" - Name given to the 1936 Yankees for their slugging power.
"Winny" - Dave Winfield, affectionate shortening of his name.
"The Yankee Clipper" - for Joe DiMaggio for the way he glided about centerfield at Yankee Stadium.
"The Yankee Clipper" - A slap at George Steinbrenner who longed to see his players clean-shaven.
"The Yankee Empire Builder" - Ed Barrow was all of that.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

MLB: Top 20 Players with the Most World Series Rings

Find the full article at: http://sportslistoftheday.com/2011/05/24/major-league-baeball-top-20-players-with-the-most-world-series-rings/

1.Yogi Berra1946-196510Yankees: 1947, 1949-1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962
2.Joe DiMaggio1936-19519Yankees: 1936-1939, 1941, 1947, 1949-1951
3.Bill Dickey1928-19468Yankees: 1928, 1932, 1936-1939, 1941, 1943
3.Phil Rizzuto1941-19568Yankees: 1941, 1947, 1949-1953, 1956
3.Frankie Crosetti1932-19488Yankees: 1932, 1936-1939, 1941, 1943, 1947
3.Lou Gehrig1923-19398Yankees: 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1936-1939
7.Hank Bauer1948-19617Yankees: 1949-1953, 1956, 1958
7.Mickey Mantle1951-19687Yankees: 1951-1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962
7.Babe Ruth1914-19357Red Sox: 1915, 1916, 1918; Yankees: 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932
7.Johnny Murphy1932-19477Yankees: 1932, 1936-1939, 1941, 1943
7.Tommy Henrich1937-19507Yankees: 1937-1939, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1950
7.Herb Pennock1912-19347Philadelphia A’s: 1913; Red Sox: 1915, 1916; Yankees: 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932
13.Whitey Ford1950-19676Yankees: 1950, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962
13.Vic Raschi1946-19556Yankees: 1947, 1949-1953
13.Allie Reynolds1942-19546Yankees: 1947, 1949-1953
13.Red Ruffing1924-19476Yankees: 1932, 1936-1939, 1941
13.Joe Collins1948-19576Yankees: 1949-1953, 1956
13.Lefty Gomez1930-19436Yankees: 1932, 1936-1939, 1941
13.Jerry Coleman1949-19576Yankees: 1949-1953, 1956
13.Eddie Collins1906-19306Philadelphia A’s: 1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1930; White Sox: 1917
13.Spud Chandler1937-19476Yankees: 1937-1939, 1941, 1943, 1947
13.Charlie Keller1939-19526Yankees: 1939, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1952
13.Tommy Byrne1943-19576Yankees: 1943, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1956
13.Ralph Houk1947-19546Yankees: 1947, 1949-1953
13.Bob Cerv1951-19626Yankees: 1951-1953, 1956, 1961, 1962
13.Charlie Silvera1948-19576Yankees: 1949-1953, 1956

All About Baseball's Greatest team - - the New York Yankees by Harvey Frommer

All About Baseball's Greatest team - - the New York Yankees 
 By Harvey Frommer  

With the hot stove season in full swing and baseball news about free agents and trades dominating the headlines, for fans of baseball's greatest franchise, the Yankees, there is also a treasure trove of history to appreciate.  So enjoy:


Yankee Stadium Factoids and Oddities 

The original Yankee Stadium had 36 ticket booths and 40 turnstiles that ticked like clocks tallying up the gate.  F.C. Lane, in a 1923 issue of The Literary Digest, called it "the last word in ball parks."   Egotistical baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis arrived at the first game there via the subway. He was caught up in the swarm of bodies outside the gates and had to be rescued by the police. 

Despite claims to the contrary, the outfield wall at Yankee stadium has actually always been uniform height. The ground beneath sloped, and at the original Stadium, a sharp pitch to the outfield grass went uphill to the fence that was just three feet high.  

Former star hurler Ron Guidry was a good drummer; he once kept a trap set at Yankee Stadium, and even had a gig in a post-game concert with the Beach Boys.

In 1988, a wall that was closed off for decades was unearthed.  Among the findings; scorecard, a program and what was supposedly the bases used in 1936.

The shooting of the Billy Crystal film "61" took place in Detroit, not Yankee Stadium.  Crystal maintained  that the architecture there was able to more closely approximate that of Yankee Stadium in 1961. 

The late and great public address announcer Bob Sheppard's favorite stadium moments; Don Larsen's perfect game, Roger Maris belting his then-record 61st regular-season home run in 1961, the Yankees' Chris Chambliss blasting a homer leading off the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS against Kansas City that gave the Yankees their first AL pennant in 12 years and the Yankees' Reggie Jackson's three home runs against the Dodgers on three consecutive pitches in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. Roger Clemens always patted the Babe Ruth monument for good luck before coming in to pitch.

Started in 1965, Bat Day has bragging rights to the longest running promotion.

 

By the Numbers

0002:  After Allie Reynolds pitched his second no-hitter for the Yankees in 1951, Manhattan's Hotel Edison, where he along with some teammates lived, changed his room number from 2019 to 0002

1 1/2:  This was the uniform number worn by opera star Robert Merrill, the man who for many years sang the national anthem at Yankee Stadium. 

3:  All three perfect games in Yankee Stadium history were witnessed by Joe Torre; Larsen's in 1956 as a 16-year-old fan, and the gems spun by David Wells and David Cone from the dugout as Yankee manager.  

14:  Yogi Berra stayed away from Yankee Stadium for 14 years, unhappy with the treatment he had received from George Steinbrenner.

$15.00:  Bob Sheppard's per game earning in 1951 when he began working for the Yankees. 

18:  Joe DiMaggio's original uniform, number given to him by equipment manager Pete Sheehy and later changed to 5 for historical significance reasons. Ruth wore number 3 and Gehrig 4.

No. 42, which has been retired from Major League Baseball in honor of Jackie Robinson.  A "grandfather clause" permits Mariano Rivera to wear this number. When he retires, the Yankees will probably honor both Robinson and Rivera with the official retirement of the number.

56:  Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak included 56 singles and runs scored.  It covered 53 day games three night games, 29 at Yankee Stadium and 27 road games. 

58:  The original number of Mariano Rivera. 

148:  On May 12, 1959, Yogi Berra's errorless streak of 148 games came to an end when he committed an error on his 34th birthday. 

185: Number of working days it took for the original Yankee Stadium to be built.

$400:  This was the amount Mickey Mantle was paid in 1949 to finish out a minor league season.

413:  Smallest Yankee home attendance for a game, September 25, 1966

454 2/3:  This was the number of innings Jack Chesbro pitched for Highlanders in 1904.

457:  Babe Ruth is the all time season leader in total bases. He reached this record in 1921 with 101 singles, 44 doubles, 16 triples and 59 home runs.

.471:  Joe Torre's career winning percentage as a manager prior to coming to the Yankees in 1996. 

1903:  For the first time since 1903, two teams played two games in different stadiums he same day, July 8, 2000. The first game was at Shea Stadium and the second game was at Yankee Stadium.

$5,000:  The reward promised to the one who caught the 61st home run ball of Roger Maris.

$6,000:  The amount of money Don Larsen received for being on Bob Hope's TV show after he pitched his perfect game in 1956.  

20,000:  The number of letters  Mickey Mantle never answered which were not bid on in the old Yankee Stadium fire sale in 1974.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Be Sure to Check Out a new collectibles website - Wikicollecting.org

http://en.wikicollecting.org/top-10-most-expensive-new-york-yankees-memorabilia

Enjoy the website above.....

Thanks to Simon for pass it on....

Be well,

Brad

ROBINSON CANO AND CURTIS GRANDERSON HONORED WITH 2011 SILVER SLUGGER AWARDS - Yankees.com

ROBINSON CANO AND CURTIS GRANDERSON HONORED WITH 2011 SILVER SLUGGER AWARDS November 2, 2011 – Louisville Slugger announced that New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and outfielder Curtis Granderson were recipients of 2011 American League Silver Slugger Awards, marking the sixth time in the last seven seasons that multiple Yankees have received the honor in the same year.

For Cano, 29, it marks his third career Silver Slugger Award, having been recognized with the honor previously in 2006 and 2010. In 2011, he batted .302 (188-for-623) with 104R, 46 doubles, seven triples, 28 home runs, a career-high 118 RBI, and 38 walks in 159 games, including 150 starts at second base. His 81 extra-base hits ranked second in the Majors to Jacoby Ellsbury (83), and his RBI total ranked fourth in the Majors, trailing only Matt Kemp (126), Prince Fielder (120) and Granderson (119). Over the course of the season, he did not go more than two consecutive games without recording a hit.

For Granderson, 30, it marks his first career Silver Slugger Award. In 2011, he batted .262 (153-for-583) with 136R, 26 doubles, 10 triples, 41 home runs, 119 RBI, 85 walks and 25 stolen bases in 156 games, including 150 starts in centerfield. He set career highs in runs scored (first in Majors), homers (second in Majors behind Jose Bautista's 43) and RBI (third in Majors behind Matt Kemp's 126 and Prince Fielder's 120).

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Yankees exercise 2012 options on Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher

Yankees exercise 2012 options on Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher October 29, 2011 – The Yankees exercised their 2012 club options on All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano and right fielder Nick Swisher on Saturday. Cano led the Yankees in average, doubles and hits, while Swisher is coming back for his fourth season in pinstripes.    

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

KIMBREL, VALVERDE WIN IBWAA RELIEF PITCHER AWARDS


KIMBREL, VALVERDE WIN IBWAA RELIEF PITCHER AWARDS

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced its relief pitcher awards Friday, naming Atlanta Braves' Craig Kimbrel the Hoyt Wilhelm National League Relief Pitcher of the Year, and the Detroit Tigers' Jose Valverde the Rollie Fingers American League Relief Pitcher of the Year. The awards were created for the IBWAA in 2010.

Voting results are as follows:

NL Relief:
1st Place:                  Craig Kimbrel, Atl
2nd Place
:                 John Axford, Mil
3rd Place:                  J.J. Putz, Ariz

AL Relief:
1st Place:                  Jose Valverde, Det
2nd Place
:                 Mariano Rivera, NYY
3rd Place:                 Jonathan Papelbon, Bos

With the Relief Pitcher of the Year announcements, the IBWAA has concluded its 2011 award season. Below is a full list of all the winners.

NL MVP – Matt Kemp, LAD
AL MVP – Curtis Granderson, NYY

NL Cy Young – Clayton Kershaw, LAD
AL Cy Young – Justin Verlander, Det (unanimous)

NL Rookie of the Year – Craig Kimbrel, Atl
AL Rookie of the Year – Mark Trumbo, LAA; Ivan Nova, NYY (tie)

NL Manager of the Year – Kirk Gibson, Ariz
AL Manager of the Year – Joe Maddon, TB

NL Executive of the Year – Doug Melvin, Mil
AL Executive of the Year – Andrew Friedman, TB

NL Comeback Player of the Year – Lance Berkman, StL
AL Comeback Player of the Year – Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos

NL Hoyt Wilhelm Relief Pitcher of the Year – Craig Kimbrel
AL Rollie Fingers Relief Pitcher of the Year – Jose Valverde

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 by Howard Cole, editor of BaseballSavvy.com and Dodger blogger for the Orange County Register, to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as an alternative voice to the BBWAA.

Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, YahooSports; Fred Claire, former General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers; Tony Jackson, Dodgers reporter, ESPNLosAngeles.com; Ben Maller, ThePostGame.com and Fox Sports Radio; David Pinto, BaseballMusings.com; Mike Petriello, MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com; and prominent baseball authors Peter Golenbock and Dan Schlossberg.

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a yearly fee of $10. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available.

For more information on the IBWAA, please visit this page at BaseballSavvy.com,
http://www.baseballsavvy.com/internetbaseballwriters.html

Contact:

Howard Cole
Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com 

Yanks' radio voices in limbo

Yanks' radio voices in limbo

Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Record
NEW YORK – Among the list of Yankees' off-season considerations is their expired radio contract with WCBS-AM and, by extension, the fate of broadcasters John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.
Wherever the Yankees land on the dial in 2012, the club retains the right to approve their announcers – indicating a healthy possibility for the duo's return to the booth.
A decision on the Yankees' radio home could be made shortly after the World Series.
But until the rights holder is revealed, there's not much the club or its high-profile announcers can say on the matter.
Yet, the notion that Sterling or Waldman might have worked a final game as a Yankees announcer wasn't part of the personal reflection after the Detroit Tigers' clinching ALDS victory Oct. 6.
"I was very disappointed in the way the season ended, in many respects," Waldman said. "But none of them had anything to do with me."
Like any stunned Yankees fan, Sterling lamented the club's various missed opportunities.
"It was unbelievably disappointing, because they were so close – they were a base hit away," Sterling said of the Game 5 aftermath. "You thought that with the game in your ballpark [they could advance]. The pitching actually was very good, but they just didn't get the hit at the right time."
In Philadelphia, as Sterling noted, "they're probably saying the same thing."
But in the Bronx, at least part of the hot stove discussion is about broadcast teams and radio terms.
In their last contract with WCBS, the Yankees reportedly received $13 million per year for their radio rights. ESPN-AM 1050 has been mentioned as a possible landing spot, although the station might have to utilize other radio outlets to compensate for its weaker signal.
Clear channel, 50,000-watt WCBS has been the Yankees' flagship station since the 2002 season.
Sterling hasn't missed a game since he entered the Yankees' radio booth in 1989, while Waldman's Yankee association dates back just as far – first as a beat reporter for WFAN. Their broadcast partnership began in 2005.
Compared to the millions generated by the YES Network, the club's own television base, the radio operation is a relatively minor consideration.
Seton Hall professor Rick Gentile believes it's in the Yankees best interest to continue its association with WCBS, assuming the club isn't completely blown away by another offer.
"They're always in the driver's seat. But I think it'd be their inclination not to change anything. I'd be very surprised if they moved," said Gentile, director of the Seton Hall University Sports Poll as well as an Emmy-winning sports broadcaster and former CBS Sports executive producer.
"I can't imagine there's some lucrative radio deal out there that would make this deal look like a real bad one," Gentile said.
WCBS's strong signal and the fans' familiarity with its location on the dial are the primary reasons to keep that marriage intact. However, Gentile puts less stock in the broadcast team as vital to the operation.
With current exceptions such as Hall of Famer Vin Scully, who began with the Dodgers in Brooklyn and whose voice could be heard on transistor radios around Dodger Stadium, Gentile believes there's less of an attachment among fans and their favorite club's radio announcers.
Still, there's certain value in having someone who "bleeds Yankee pinstripes" like Sterling as the club's signature voice – with his well-mimicked home run calls and familiar personality.
"There is a comfort level," Gentile said. "He's their guy."


Find this article at: http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/baseball/132033188_Yankees__radio_voices_in_limbo.html

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

IBWAA ANNOUNCES ROY, COMEBACK AWARDS


IBWAA ANNOUNCES ROY, COMEBACK AWARDS

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced its Rookie of Year awards Monday, naming Atlanta Braves' closer Craig Kimbrel in the National League. The American League vote finished in a tie, with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's outfielder Mark Trumbo and New York Yankees' starting pitcher Ivan Nova sharing the honors.

The IBWAA NL Comeback Player of the Year award was won by St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder Lance Berkman, with Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury winning in the AL.

Voting results are as follows:

NL ROY
1st Place:                  Craig Kimbrel, Atl
2nd Place
:                 Freddie Freeman,
Atl
3rd Place
:                  Danny Espinosa, Wash

AL ROY
1st Place:                  Mark Trumbo, LAA (tie)
1st Place:                  Ivan Nova, NYY (tie)
3rd Place:                  Eric Hosmer, KC

NL Comeback
1st Place:                  Lance Berkman, StL
2nd Place
:                 Ryan Vogelsong, SF
3rd Place:                  Carlos Beltran, SF

AL Comeback
1st Place:                  Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos
2nd Place
:                 Melky Cabrera, KC (tie)
2nd Place:                 Casey Kotchman, TB (tie)

IBWAA Manager and Executive of the Year awards will be announced Wednesday, with Relievers awards to follow Friday.

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 by Howard Cole, editor of BaseballSavvy.com and Dodger blogger for the Orange County Register, to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as an alternative voice to the BBWAA.

Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, YahooSports; Fred Claire, former General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers; Tony Jackson, Dodgers reporter, ESPNLosAngeles.com; Ben Maller, ThePostGame.com and Fox Sports Radio; David Pinto, BaseballMusings.com; Mike
Petriello, MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com; and prominent baseball authors Peter Golenbock and Dan Schlossberg.

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a yearly fee of $10. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available.

For more information on the IBWAA, please visit this page at BaseballSavvy.com,
http://www.baseballsavvy.com/internetbaseballwriters.html

Contact:

Howard Cole
Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com
     

IBWAA NAMES JUSTIN VERLANDER AS 2011 AL CY YOUNG


IBWAA NAMES JUSTIN VERLANDER AS 2011 AL CY YOUNG

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the fourth of its 14 annual awards Friday, unanimously naming Detroit Tigers' pitcher Justin Verlander its 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner.

Voting results are as follows:
1st Place:                  Justin Verlander, Det
2nd Place:                 Jered Weaver, LAA
3rd Place:                  CC Sabathia, NYY
4th Place:                  James Shields, TB
5th Place:                  Dan Haren, LAA

IBWAA Rookie and Comeback awards will be announced Monday, October 10, followed by Manager and Executive awards Wednesday, and Reliever awards Friday.

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 by Howard Cole, editor of BaseballSavvy.com and Dodger blogger for the Orange County Register, to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as an alternative voice to the BBWAA.

Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, YahooSports; Fred Claire, former General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers; Tony Jackson, Dodgers reporter, ESPNLosAngeles.com; Ben Maller, ThePostGame.com and Fox Sports Radio; David Pinto, BaseballMusings.com; Mike
Petriello, MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com; and prominent baseball authors Peter Golenbock and Dan Schlossberg.

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a yearly fee of $10. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available.

For more information on the IBWAA, please visit this page at BaseballSavvy.com,
http://www.baseballsavvy.com/internetbaseballwriters.html

Contact:

Howard Cole
Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com

IBWAA NAMES CLAYTON KERSHAW AS 2011 CY YOUNG




IBWAA NAMES CLAYTON KERSHAW AS 2011 CY YOUNG



Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the third of its 14 annual awards Wednesday, naming Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Clayton Kershaw its 2011 Cy Young Award winner.



Voting results are as follows:
1st Place:                  Clayton Kershaw, LAD
2nd Place:                 Roy Halladay,
Phil
3rd Place
:                  Ian Kennedy, Ariz
4th Place:                  Cliff Lee, Phil
5th Place:                  Craig Kimbrel, Atl


Los Angeles Daily News' columnist Tom Hoffarth explains his Kershaw vote this way: "It wasn’t just because Kershaw racked up the Triple Crown numbers, or that the eight others who did the same since the first Cy Young was given out 55 years ago also won the award, too, nearly unanimously. That’s too easy. All the 'new' numbers support him as well. Kershaw was also first in WHIP (0.98), in opponent’s batting average (.207), and his run-support average (5.52) was tougher than Ian Kennedy (6.12) and Roy Halladay (5.89). A new standard has been established the last three years – Felix Hernandez, Zack Greinke and Tim Lincecum won the Cy in 2010, 2009 and 2008 on teams that finished under .500, with far less dazzling stats. And check it out: the 2011 Dodgers were actually above .500."



Mike Petriello, of MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com, adds this perspective: "The NL Cy Young is really a complete toss-up between Kershaw (233.1 IP, 66 R), Halladay (233.2 IP, 65 R) and Lee (232.2 IP, 66 R), particularly since Baseball Prospectus has the Dodgers and Phillies defenses behind them essentially tied in effectiveness. A vote for any of the three would be completely defensible. From this viewpoint, Kershaw gets the slight edge simply because he was the most dominating, even in the somewhat more forgiving Dodger Stadium. He finished second in MLB (behind Justin Verlander) in strikeouts and second again (behind Zack Greinke) in K%. Only Verlander allowed a lower batting average to his opponents, and Kershaw's swinging strike percentage topped both of his Philadelphia competitors. Even with a slightly higher walk rate than Halladay or Lee, Kershaw held opposing batters to the lowest OPS of anybody in baseball, topping even Verlander."



Ron Kaplan, Features Editor at NJ Jewish News, sums up his feelings here: "Kershaw has enjoyed one of the best pitching seasons in several years. Despite playing for an underperforming Dodgers team and faced with a most distracting situation not of his own making with the team’s troubles this year, he managed to lead the NL in wins, strikeouts, and ERA – the pitcher’s “Triple Crown” – while allowing fewer than one hit/walk per inning. One can only imagine how much worse Los Angeles fans would have had it without Kershaw and Matt Kemp as the bright lights in an otherwise dismal campaign."



IBWAA AL Cy Young results will be announced Friday, with Rookie, Manager, Comeback, Executive and Relievers of the Year to follow next week.



The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 by Howard Cole, editor of BaseballSavvy.com and Dodger blogger for the Orange County Register, to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as an alternative voice to the BBWAA.


Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, YahooSports; Fred Claire, former General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers; Tony Jackson, Dodgers reporter, ESPNLosAngeles.com; Ben Maller, ThePostGame.com and Fox Sports Radio; David Pinto, BaseballMusings.com; Mike Petriello, MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com; and prominent baseball authors Peter Golenbock and Dan Schlossberg.



Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a yearly fee of $10. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available.

For more information on the IBWAA, please visit this page at BaseballSavvy.com,
http://www.baseballsavvy.com/internetbaseballwriters.html


Contact:



Howard Cole
Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com

IBWAA ANNOUNCES MANAGER, EXECUTIVE AWARDS

IBWAA ANNOUNCES MANAGER, EXECUTIVE AWARDS



Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced its Manager of the Year awards Wednesday, naming Arizona Diamondbacks' skipper Kirk Gibson in the National League, and the Tampa Bay Rays' Joe Maddon in the American League.
The IBWAA NL Executive of the Year award was won by Milwaukee Brewers' general manager Doug Melvin, with Rays' Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman winning in the AL.

Voting results are as follows:

NL Manager

1st Place: Kirk Gibson, Ariz
2nd Place: Ron Roenicke, Mil
3rd Place: Fredi Gonzalez, Atl


AL Manager

1st Place: Joe Maddon, TB
2nd Place: Jim Leyland, Det
3rd Place: Ron Washington, Tex


NL Executive

1st Place: Doug Melvin, Mil
2nd Place: Kevin Towers, Ariz
3rd Place: Ruben Amaro, Phil


AL Executive

1st Place: Andrew Friedman, TB
2nd Place: Dave Dombrowski, Det
3rd Place: Jon Daniels, Tex


The IBWAA wraps up its award season Friday with the naming of the 2011 Rollie Fingers American League Relief Pitcher of the Year and Hoyt Wilhelm National League Relief Pitcher of the Year awards.

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 by Howard Cole, editor of BaseballSavvy.com and Dodger blogger for the Orange County Register, to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as an alternative voice to the BBWAA.

Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, YahooSports; Fred Claire, former General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers; Tony Jackson, Dodgers reporter, ESPNLosAngeles.com; Ben Maller, ThePostGame.com and Fox Sports Radio; David Pinto, BaseballMusings.com; Mike Petriello, MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com; and prominent baseball authors Peter Golenbock and Dan Schlossberg.

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a yearly fee of $10. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available.

For more information on the IBWAA, please visit this page at BaseballSavvy.com,
http://www.baseballsavvy.com/internetbaseballwriters.html

Contact:

Howard Cole
Director, IBWAA

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

IBWAA NAMES CURTIS GRANDERSON AS 2011 AL MVP

IBWAA NAMES CURTIS GRANDERSON AS 2011 AL MVP



Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the second of its 14 annual awards Monday, naming New York Yankees' center fielder Curtis Granderson its 2011 American League Most Valuable Player.



Voting results are as follows:

1st Place:                  Curtis Granderson, NYY
2nd Place:                 Adrian Gonzalez, Bos
3rd Place:                  Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos

4th Place:                  Miguel Cabrera, Det
5th Place:                  Robinson Cano, NYY
6th Place:                  Jose Bautista, Tor
7th Place:                  Justin Verlander, Det
8th Place:                  Michael Young, Tex
9th Place:                  Dustin Pedroia, Bos
10th Place:             Adrian Beltre, Tex

Los Angeles Times' baseball writer and IBWAA member, Kevin Baxter, explains his Granderson vote this way: "There was not a more complete player in the American League than Curtis Granderson. Certainly the Yankees' deep lineup provided him protection but from runs scored to home runs, from total bases to stolen bases, Granderson was near the top of every list. And almost forgotten is the fact he solidified the Yankee defense by playing an excellent center field."



David Pinto, of BaseballMusings.com, having voted differently, shares this perspective: "Justin Verlander turned in a memorable season, with his win total being his least impressive accomplishment. His ability to go deep in games while maintaining velocity, and holding opponents to a .191 BA despite an average defense made him the outstanding player of 2011 in the American League."



IBWAA Cy Young results will be announced Wednesday and Friday, with Rookie, Manager, Comeback, Executive and Relievers of the Year to follow.



The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 by Howard Cole, editor of BaseballSavvy.com and Dodger blogger for the Orange County Register, to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as an alternative voice to the BBWAA.


Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, YahooSports; Fred Claire, former General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers; Tony Jackson, Dodgers reporter, ESPNLosAngeles.com; Ben Maller, ThePostGame.com and Fox Sports Radio; David Pinto, BaseballMusings.com; Mike
Petriello, MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com; and prominent baseball authors Peter Golenbock and Dan Schlossberg.



Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a yearly fee of $10. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available.

For more information on the IBWAA, please visit this page at BaseballSavvy.com, http://www.baseballsavvy.com/internetbaseballwriters.html


Contact:



Howard Cole
Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com


Sunday, October 2, 2011

IBWAA NAMES MATT KEMP AS 2011 NL MVP

IBWAA NAMES MATT KEMP AS 2011 NL MVP

 Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the first of its 14 annual awards Friday, naming Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp its 2011 National League Most Valuable Player.

 Voting results are as follows:

1st Place:                  Matt Kemp, LAD
2nd Place:                 Ryan Braun, Mil
3rd Place:                  Prince Fielder, Mil

4th Place:                  Albert Pujols, Stl
5th Place:                  Justin Upton, Ariz
6th Place:                  Joey Votto, Cin
7th Place:                  Jose Reyes, NYM
8th Place:                  Roy Halladay, Phil
9th Place:                  Troy Tulowitzki, Col
10th Place:                Hunter Pence, Phil
Los Angeles Times' baseball writer and IBWAA member, Kevin Baxter, explains his Kemp vote this way: "Consider 2011 a coming-out party for the Dodgers' Matt Kemp, who fully displayed his enormous abilities. No player in the National League had a more complete season than Kemp, who led the league in runs, homers and RBIs, had the third-highest batting average and also stole 40 bases. And he did it all in the middle of a lineup that offered him little protection. Oh, and he also led NL centerfielders with 11 assists."
Los Angeles Daily News' columnist and founding IBWAA member, Tom Hoffarth, adds the following: "If Braun has an edge in being valuable to a team winning a division title, Kemp was able to have the season he did for a team blanketed in off-the-field distractions without someone like Prince Fielder having his back in the lineup all season. You hate to be accused of having a local bias, but in this case, L.A. is not only where Kemp played, but where Braun grew up. You could find yourself rooting for both to have phenomenal years, which they did. It could have been easy to name them co-MVPs. But that would be the easy way out. This makes more sense."

 Gary Warner, Orange County Register Travel Editor and founding IBWAA member, sums up his feelings here: "There are just some seasons that demand recognition, despite - or maybe because - of the performance of the team. Kemp went into the last two weeks as the first legitimate triple crown threat in decades. He put up those numbers in a lineup with far less protection than Braun and Fielder."

 An announcement regarding the American League MVP is next on the docket, Monday, October 3, 2011. Cy Young results to come shortly afterwards, with Rookie, Manager, Comeback, Executive and Relievers of the Year to follow.

 The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 by Howard Cole, editor of BaseballSavvy.com and Dodger blogger for the Orange County Register, to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as an alternative voice to the BBWAA.

Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, YahooSports; Fred Claire, former General Manager, Los Angeles Dodgers; Tony Jackson, Dodgers reporter, ESPNLosAngeles.com; Ben Maller, FoxSports.com; David Pinto, BaseballMusings.com; Mike Petriello, MikeSciosciasTragicIllness.com; and prominent baseball authors Peter Golenbock and Dan Schlossberg.

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a yearly fee of $10. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available.

For more information on the IBWAA, please visit this page at BaseballSavvy.com, http://www.baseballsavvy.com/internetbaseballwriters.html.


Contact:

Howard Cole
Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com