A Special Thanks to WBSU 89.1 FM Radio

I would like to extend appreciation to the guys at The Point After of WBSU 89.1 FM radio in Rochester, NY.

They were generous enough to invite me onto their program today to talk Yankees baseball for 10 minutes.

The hosts do a great job up there, and I urge all of my readers to check out the site and give them a live listen.

We discussed many topics about the recent troubles of Alex Rodriguez off the field, the feedback stemming from the opening of the new stadium, and the current state of the Yankees.

The unavoidable topic of Joba Chamberlain's possible return to the eighth inning role was also covered, as well as the importance of Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes.

I look forward to speaking with them again in the future, and ultimately had a great time on the show.

Chien-Ming Wang Injury Update: Foot Again Blamed as the Catalyst

Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang has once again shot himself in the foot.

I of course mean this figuratively, and am in no way insinuating another Plaxico Burress nightmare.

According to reports produced by the New York Daily News, it appears that Chien-Ming Wang’s struggles were indeed magnified by a recurring foot injury.

The damage dates back to last season, when Wang was injured while rounding third base in an Interleague game.

“Organizational pitching coach Billy Connors remarked that Wang was unable to push off his back foot, which is where pitchers gather their power from. Wang pitched four innings in an extended spring training game Saturday and is slated to do so two more times before rejoining the Yankees.”

Wang’s account of the early season disaster is that “stiffness in my right foot threw off my mechanics.”

As a result, the Yankees feel that his hip took on the brunt of the stresses. He was getting over onto his front foot too quickly, using hip rotation to compensate for an insufficient push off of his back leg.

Billy Connors and the Yankees organization seem to have targeted exactly what needs to be repaired in order to salvage Wang’s season. Actually succeeding in doing so is the next and more difficult step.

Phil Hughes, Wang’s current replacement, will pitch today against the Angels. His performances will ultimately determine the urgency of Wang’s restoration.

The Yankees have decided to implement a rehab process including a strength and conditioning program.

It wouldn’t hurt to also send him to a few sessions with a first-rate therapist, would it?

Bullpen Makes Sure Another Comeback Falls Short

C.C. Sabathia was very strong through six innings, before eventually losing his command and dominance during the seventh.

The relief did not provide any of what their name insinuates, and allowed the Angels lead to stretch to 8-1.

The deficit was too much to overcome, even for a suddenly stimulated Yankees comeback campaign.

After a two-run blast from Jorge Posada, New York inched closer. Unlike last night's miracle, however, the Angels never had to truly concern themselves with thoughts of a collapse.

The loss dropped Sabathia's season numbers to a disappointing 1-3 with a 4.85 ERA. He has pitched much better of late, though his box score performance does not support this idea.

Sabathia is still performing at a higher level than virtually the entire Yankees bullpen, as Albaladejo (7.30), Veras (8.03), and Robertson (5.40) helped to stop any hopes of continuing the team's four-game winning streak.

Phil Hughes will square off against Joe Saunders tomorrow afternoon in attempts to capture a 3-1 series victory over the Angels.

If Hughes can build off of his impressive 2009 debut, the Yankees will feel much better about heading into a four-game battle with the Red Sox and Rays.

It appears as though this team is following the pattern of one step forward, one step back.

They will have to begin playing consistent baseball in all facets of the game in order to reach the top of their division.

John Sterling: A Gaze into the Heart, Soul, and Lungs of Yankees Radio

Most fans of baseball tend to recognize Mel Allen, Phil Rizzuto, or Bob Sheppard as the historical voice of the New York Yankees.

For as long as America’s Pastime is continued, cleats, pine tar, bats, and high socks will be as American as hot dogs and apple pie.

In the same token, the aforementioned voices of Yankee past will forever be linked to the Bronx as definitively as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, and Lou Gehrig.

To Yankees aficionados growing up during the Mattingly years with a radio in their grasp, however, “there can be only one.” New York radio personality John Sterling is the play-by-play version of Highlander; both incomparable and irreplaceable in our ears and in our hearts.

Sterling has been announcing Yankees games over the radio waves for 20 straight seasons. During that time period, he has not missed one game for any circumstance. His streak of nearly 3400 consecutive games makes even Cal Ripken appear to be undedicated.

What most endears Sterling to Yankees fans is his unrelenting fandom. The passion and emotion flows from his brain to his vocal chords, forcing listeners to likewise hinge on every pitch.

Listeners can immediately discover the status of their ball club by the first words that pour from Sterling’s mouth.

When in the midst of a convincing victory, Sterling is often caught giggling and marveling at every action a Yankee performs. Something along the lines of, “Oh Suzyn, isn’t Jeter just UNBELIEVEABLE?! Did you see him stride so effortlessly after that pop-up?!” Suzyn refers to his announcing partner Suzyn Waldman, essentially only present to bounce rhetorical questions off of.

During an embarrassing loss or unanticipated collapse, Sterling becomes utterly soaked in sarcasm. He uses every reserved muscle in his body to circumvent ranting like a beer-drinking fan sunken into his couch. You’re likely to hear facetious phrases such as, “Well, the Yankees bullpen certainly did an extraordinary job holding onto the lead, didn’t they Suzyn?”

In a game that is one pitch away from complete transformation, Sterling becomes an entirely different animal. You can sense the excitement and fear in his voice, and are able to visualize his hands beginning to quiver. He can no longer control the baseball fanatic inside of him, as the pressure begins to build like an impending volcanic eruption.

At these moments, Sterling has earned a nearly mythological status. If New York is able to record the final out of a dramatic victory, he unleashes one of the game’s most famous calls, “Ball game over! Yankees win, theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankeesssss WIN!!”

Sterling will differentiate the length of “the” depending on the importance and drama involved in the triumph itself. Furthermore, his body will begin to gyrate in a motion affectionately referred to as “the Sterling shake.”


Nearly as popular and unforgettable as his final call, Sterling’s home run calls apply a different twist. He has tediously invented a nickname for each and every offensive player on the roster, utilizing them to enhance an already wholehearted delivery.

There are enough timeless examples to fill an encyclopedia, so we will focus on some of the most beloved:

1. Melky Cabrera: “The Melkman delivers! It’s the Melky Way!”
2. Hideki Matsui: “A Thrilla…from Godzilla!”
3. Jason Giambi: “The Giam-bino! It’s a Bash from the ‘stache!”
4. Alex Rodriguez: “An A-Bomb…from A-Rod!”
5. Bernie Williams: “Bern baby Bern!”
And my personal favorite,
6. Shane Spencer: “Shane Spencer…the home run dispenser!”

Immediately before one of these slogans is let loose, Sterling begins with his patented home run hint: “Swung on and…drilled to deep left! That ball is high…it is far…ittttttt’s GONE!” It apparently takes no more than a keychain to translate the experience to fans:

Sterling is without a doubt one of the more eccentric and zealous play-by-play announcers in all of sports. Though clearly an admitted “Homer,” he captivates Yankees Universe each and every time a game is played.

No other NY sports media personality can better capture the intensity and exhilaration of a moment than Sterling, because it truly means as much to him as any fan crowded around a radio speaker.

Sterling has earned this tribute and many more, and will forever resonate in my head whenever I attempt to recall any great moment in Yankees history.

I will leave you with one more of Sterling’s epic calls, as he describes the final out of the 1998 World Series:

“Hit on the ground on a hop to Brosius, fields, throws across. In time! Ballgame over! World Series over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win! The New York Yankees, professional sports' most-storied gloried franchise has once again scaled baseball's Everest! For the 24th time in their illustrious history, the New York Yankees are World Champions!”

The man, the myth, the legend...John Sterling.

Instant Classic: Yankees Comeback Stretches Win Streak to Four

Down 9-4 entering the bottom of the 8th inning, the Yankees appeared poised to suffer another frustrating loss at the hands of the Angels.

They had jumped out to an early 4-0 lead; before everything quickly unraveled for Andy Pettitte and the bullpen in the 6th.

After four runs in the 8th and two more in the 9th, the Yankees had snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat.

Jorge Posada was the game's shining star, lacing a two-run walk-off single off of Angels closer Brian Fuentes.

The unquestionable unsung hero of tonight's memorable victory is Yankees 3B Ramiro Pena. A defensive-minded, short-term replacement for Alex Rodriguez has become an offensive juggernaut in recent games.

Pena's two-run single in the 8th gave New York every reason to believe the momentum had swung sharply back into its favor. He collected three hits on the night, raising his batting average to a shocking .333.

Many fans, such as myself, likely missed some of the game action. I will now be staying up until after 2 AM to watch the replay on the YES Network.

This is an amazing win at a critical time, and shows the heart, determination, and will of the Yankees ball club.

C.C. Sabathia will attempt to continue the winning trend tomorrow against unknown Angels starter Matt Palmer. Saturday will represent just his fifth Major League start, although he recently turned 30 years old.

With four games on the horizon against the Red Sox and Rays, a series victory over the pesky Angels could prove to be a huge rallying cry moving forward.

The New York Yankees Awards Ceremony: April 2009

MVP of the Month:

Derek Jeter – There are hitters on the Yankees roster with better stats and flashier personas, but Jeter continues to quietly dominate outside of a box score.

He has already produced more clutch hits in enormous situations than anyone not named Melky Cabrera, and has silenced critics of his perceived offensive decline.

Pitcher of the Month:

Andy Pettitte – Seemingly left for dead after a horrid 2008 second half, Pettitte has been the Yankees stopper time and time again in 2009. Amidst serious bullpen concerns and struggles by his mates in the starting rotation, he has gone 2-1 with a 2.96 ERA.

Pettitte’s arm appears fresh and revitalized, and he could provide a huge lift in a division he historically dominates.

Hitter of the Month:

Nick Swisher – Swisher is possibly the team’s MVP, biggest surprise, unsung hero, hitter of the month, and comeback player of the month all in one. Coming off of a season in which he hit just .219; Swisher generated 7 HR, 19 RBI, 15 BB, 21 R, and a .312 AVG. in the month of April.

Swisher has stabilized the Yankees right field situation after Nady’s injury, as well as provided a much needed emotional spark on and off the field.

Rookie of the Month:

Mark Melancon – Melancon may have only arrived a week before the end of April, but he has already supplied New York with a secret weapon. He has worked himself out of a bases loaded jam in Fenway Park, and looked poised and electric in one inning of work in Detroit.

Melancon has helped to pull hands away from the bullpen panic button, and keeps hopes alive of the rebirth of a reliever in the mold of Joba Chamberlain. He throws hard, and more importantly, he throws with conviction. He has 3 IP, 1 H allowed, 2 K, 1 BB, and a .100 BAA.

Comeback Player of the Month:

Robinson Cano – My original selection for AL Comeback POY before the season’s beginning, Cano has reemerged as a pure hitter once compared to Hall of Fame 2B Rod Carew.

Cano ended April hitting a robust .366, with 5 HR and 16 RBI. His defense has rapidly improved to Gold Glove levels, and he has displayed a more developed eye for pitch selection.

Rolaids Relief Man of the Month:

Phil Coke – Normally an award reserved for Mariano Rivera, Coke has earned the right to call himself the Yankees reliever of the month. He struggled mightily in the early part of the month, but responded admirably when New York needed him most.

Following Brian Bruney’s last pre-DL appearance on April 21, Coke has pitched 4.1 scoreless AND hitless innings, lowering his ERA from 9.00 to 3.72. He picked up an important win on the month’s final day, and has limited the impact of Bruney’s injury.

Biggest Surprise:

Melky Cabrera – Cabrera was not only left for dead, but also offered to virtually every team in need of a center fielder as trade bait. New York had decided that he was not at all a part of their future plans, and would prove to be insignificant upon Austin Jackson’s arrival.

Brett Gardner’s poor start, coupled with Xavier Nady’s injury, reopened the door for Cabrera in a Yankee uniform. He responded with a .327 AVG, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 11 R, and two game-winning hits. The success may not be sustainable, but Cabrera has been invaluable thus far.

Biggest Demise:

Chien-Ming Wang – How does a 54-20 career record quickly transform into a 0-3 record, 34.50 ERA, 4.83 WHIP, and .622 BAA? The Yankees are currently trying to figure that out, as last year’s ace has been relegated to a Minor League “rehab program.”

Wang failed so miserably that New York had to invent an injury just to figure out what is wrong between his ears. A recovery from last season’s foot injury could be contributing to the problem, but it also appears that he has lost all confidence in himself. His power sinker has become as flat as people once believed Earth to be.

The “Luis Sojo” Unsung Hero Award:

Jose Molina – In honor of former Yankee Luis Sojo, this award is intended to shine light on a player often lost in the fray of a team filled with big names and even bigger contracts.

Molina may not produce gaudy numbers, but he may be the best backup catcher in all of baseball. Hitting .276 with 1 HR and 5 RBI, he has actually been a better offensive contributor than anticipated.

Molina’s defense, however, is what truly sets him apart. He was the league’s best backstop in throwing out runners in 2008, and has already caught 50 percent of attempting thieves this season. His importance is elevated due to long-term concerns about Jorge Posada’s surgically repaired throwing shoulder.

Honorable Mention: Jorge Posada’s Right Arm – Speaking of Posada, his shoulder has responded very well to the extensive rehab he put in during the offseason. Often maligned across MLB, Posada’s arm has thrown out 10 of 25 runners (40%) this year. He has added 3 HR, 14 RBI, .275 AVG, and .366 OBP; showing that he is still a premiere AL catcher.

Yankees Awake to See May 1: Players Feel Differing Emotions

As the clock struck midnight on Friday morning, the calendar had officially flipped over to the month of May.

The Yankees awoke from a fulfilling night’s sleep, basking in the positivity of their recent three-game winning streak.

Currently sitting at 12-10 in the standings, New York has climbed back into striking distance of the leaders in the American League East.

The team’s record is rather remarkable considering the turmoil and misfortune that suffocated the Bronx during March and April.

The Yankees have won 54.5 percent of their games, on pace to finish 88-74 over a full 162-game season.

Virtually identical to New York’s 2008 finish of 89-73, it has done so without the luxury of even one at bat from Alex Rodriguez.

It seems more impressive when reflecting on the additional losses of Xavier Nady and Brian Bruney to elbow injuries, as well as the incompetence of the Yankees bullpen and high-priced free agent acquisitions. Chien-Ming Wang did not quite succeed as a No. 2 starter this season either.

Mark Teixeira, Damaso Marte, and Wang feared becoming the stars of their own version of Groundhog Day, unable to escape the nightmare of a never-ending April.

Many other Yankees, including Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, and Melky Cabrera, would have leaped at the opportunity to avoid the arrival of May 1.

Swisher and Cano combined for 12 HR, 35 RBI, 21 BB, and 39 R in just 22 April games. Cano had added 34 hits and a .366 AVG to his list of accolades.

Cabrera, on the other hand, has entirely rejuvenated his Yankee career. In hitting .327 with 4 HR, he has won back the starting center field job in the Bronx, and subsequently rediscovered his confidence and swagger.

While assuming the reasonable statistical comebacks of Teixeira, Burnett, and Sabathia, it is easy to see why Yankees fans have reason for optimism and hope.

The ultimate success of Wang, A-Rod, and the bullpen are still in doubt. The simple return of A-Rod to the lineup, however, should help the team’s overall lineup depth. Teixeira should also feel more comfortable and assured at the plate with legitimate protection behind him.

If “April showers bring May flowers,” then perhaps the Yankees will be purged of their troubles; once again able to perform at the highest of levels.

May will almost certainly “come in like a lion” in terms of scheduled opponents, as the month’s first seven games are against the Angels, Red Sox, and Rays. A three-game series with the World Champion Phillies also looms later in the month.

The Yankees will be tested early and often in the season’s second month, but can feel very fortunate to be in their current position.

April “showered” the Bronx with controversy, injuries, underperformance, boos, and even a strange wind current dilemma.

I’m sure those players sad to see May’s arrival will be willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. I, for one, am not waiting until Cinco de Mayo on May 5 to start celebrating.