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Geno Battles Cancer

April 14, 2010 by William Juliano

For almost 40 years, Gene Monahan has been treating the wounds of Yankees players. As Yankee trainer since 1972, and an organizational employee since 1963, Monahan has truly been an enduring link. From Mantle to Murcer to Mattingly to Mariano, Geno has been on hand for all the highs and lows.

Now, however, comes word that Monahan is in a serious battle with his own health. Since it was announced that he would miss his first spring training in 48 years, very little had been said about Monahan’s illness. Seeing tears in Monahan’s eyes as he received his 2009 World Series ring, and then watching those same tears well up in the eyes of Joe Girardi has he discussed the moment, confirmed the seriousness of what we had all feared.

For nearly 40 years, Gene Monahan has looked after the Yankees as head athletic trainer.

Gene Monahan has throat and neck cancer. He has been undergoing treatment since January, when he had surgery to remove his tonsils. In total, he has received 30 radiation treatments, including his latest just before the ring ceremony. According to Monahan, the prognosis is good, but the healing process will still take some time. The Yankees are hoping to have Geno back full-time at some point over the summer, but for now he has been helping out Steve Donahue, Monahan’s assistant since 1986, by consulting on injuries and doing prep work at Yankee Stadium.

Seeing Gene Monahan trot out for his ring was the most emotional part of Opening Day, just as poignant as the sight of George Steinbrenner sitting in a luxury box with his wife Joan at his side. I’ve always thought (and hoped) that Monahan would write a book. He has seen so much of Yankee history firsthand that his accounts would probably make for incredible reading. Chris Chamblis’ HR in 1976, Monahan was there. Reggie’s three bolts in 1977…Monahan was there. The Munson tribute…Geno was on the bench. Rag’s no-hitter, every version of Billy Ball, Donnie’s prime, Jeter’s rookie season, the four championships under Torre and Girardi’s #27 have all been witnessed by Monahan. Monahan even serves as a link to all three versions of Yankee Stadium. Think about it…every book about the Yankees since the 1970s, from The Bronx Zoo to The Yankee Years, has featured at least one interesting vignette about Monahan. Imagine putting them all together?

The Yankees are a team of legends…its players, its owner and, yes, even its trainer. Hopefully, that legend has a lot more room to grow.

Under the Care of Geno…

  • World Championships: 7
  • AL Pennants: 11
  • Managers: 16
  • Yankees Record: 3313-2553

Posted in MLB, Yankee History, Yankees | Leave a Comment »

Home Opener: Angels vs. Yankees, the Return of Godzilla

April 13, 2010 by William Juliano

 

 

vs. Ervin Santana PA BA OBP SLG HR RBI
Derek Jeter SS 27 0.435 0.519 0.739 2 2
Nick Johnson DH 3 0.500 0.667 0.500 0 1
Mark Teixeira 1B 30 0.261 0.367 0.435 1 7
Alex Rodriguez 3B 24 0.227 0.292 0.500 2 7
Robinson Cano 2B 22 0.250 0.273 0.600 2 5
Jorge Posada C 13 0.222 0.385 0.556 1 3
Curtis Granderson CF 26 0.217 0.308 0.522 2 3
Nick Swisher RF 30 0.148 0.233 0.259 0 0
Brett Gardner LF 3 0.000 0.000 0.000 0 0
Total 178 0.253 0.339 0.494 10 28

Home Opener Facts

  • For the first time since 1968, the Yankees will host the Angels in their home opener. In that game played on April 10, the Yankees beat California, as they were know at the time, in a 1-0 pitchers’ duel.
  • Since 1901 (including two seasons when the franchise resided in Baltimore), the Yankees are 72-36 (.667) in home openers. Only the Toronto Blue Jays at 25-9 (.735) have a higher winning percentage in their home opener (the Jays lost yesterday’s home opener to the White Sox).
  • The Yankees have played the most home openers against the Boston Red Sox (26) and Washington Senators (22).
  • The only American League team that the Yankees have never hosted at a home opener is the Seattle Mariners.
  • The only team to have a winning record against the Yankees in their home opener is the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers have won three of the five openers they have played in New York.
  • The most runs scored by the Yankees in their home opener was 19 against the Washington Senators on April 13, 1955.
  • The most runs given up by the Yankees in their home opener was 12 against the Detroit Tigers on April 12, 1983.

Individual Yankee Home Opening Day Accomplishments (Since 1920)

  • No Yankee has hit 2 or more HRs in the home opener.

    Willie Randolph shares the Yankee record for most hits and RBIs in a home opener 9since 1920).

  • Most RBIs: 5, accomplished by Tino Martinez (April 10, 1998 vs. Oakland) and Willie Randolph (April 13, 1987 vs. Cleveland).
  • Most hits: 4, accomplished by Wade Boggs (April 4, 1994 vs. Texas), Paul O’Neill (April 12, 1993 vs. Kansas City), Willie Randolph (April 13, 1987 vs. Cleveland) and Babe Ruth (April 13, 1921 vs. Philadelphia).
  • Most strikeouts by a pitcher: 12, accomplished by David Cone on April 11, 1987 in a loss to Oakland.
  • Fewest hits allowed by a pitcher (in a CG): 2, accomplished by Bob Turley (April 12, 1959 vs. Boston) and White Ford (April 13, 1995 vs. Washington).

Posted in Game Recap, MLB, Yankee History, Yankees | Leave a Comment »

There’s No Place Like Home

April 13, 2010 by William Juliano

After months of Spring Training and then a week on the road, the Yankees return home to the Stadium. With the team coming off of its 27th World Championship, the festivities are expected to be grand.

Yogi and Whitey will help hand out the World Series rings to the players and coaches from the 2009 team. Too bad the Mick can't be there to join them

The centerpiece of the occasion will be the raising of the first championship flag to fly atop the new Yankee Stadium. In a nod to the team’s past, and perhaps what little remains of the old place across the street, the Yankees will also ring the ballpark with the other 26 championship banners that have been accumulated over the years. Talk about a peacock displaying his feathers.

With the Boss looking on, the players and coaches from last year’s team will receive their World Series rings in a pre-game ceremony presided over by Hall of Famers Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra, who won a combined 16 World Series titles. Bernie Williams, himself a four-time World Series champion, has been tapped for the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Bernie will become the ninth former Yankee player to deliver an Opening Day first pitch. The last two so honored were Reggie Jackson, who threw out the last “first” pitch at the old Stadium, and Yogi Berra, who opened up the new Stadium.

Finally, at the conclusion of the anthem, the Fighter Squadron Composite Twelve (VFC-12), a US Navy Reserve fighter squadron, will execute a fly over. Known as the “Fighting Omars,” the VFC-12 is one of the Navy’s two Reserve Hornet squadrons.

Another fortuitous part of the ceremony will be the presentation of a championship ring to the 2009 World Series MVP. Thanks to the luck of the draw, the Yankee Stadium faithful will get to welcome Hideki Matsui back as a visiting Angel. A long and loud standing ovation should be in order for Matsui, who spent seven classy and productive seasons with the Yankees.

What’s on the Program?

  • Gates open –11:00AM
  • Championship Flags are unveiled – 12:00PM
  • Ring Ceremony begins – 12:15AM
  • National Anthem Sung by Emmy and Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth
  • Flyover By VFC
  • Bernie Williams throws out first pitch
  • Yankees begin defense of 27th World Championship – 1:05PM

Posted in MLB, Yankees | Leave a Comment »

There Used To Be a Ballpark…

April 12, 2010 by William Juliano

All that remains of the original Yankee Stadium is a pile of rubble (Photo:Joseph Leotta, Sliding Into Home).

As the new Yankee Stadium was unveiled last year, the old place remained largely intact. Visitors to the ballpark could still observe the looming presence of the once glorious playground that was home to baseball’s biggest legends. In many ways, it was a sad sight. As the majestic structure slowly began to wilt, it almost seemed to look longingly at the new palace that was built across the street. Once the center of attention, the House that Ruth Built was now no more than a sideshow, abandoned by the crowds that once clamored to get in. It was hard not to feel a small sense of betrayal when entering the new ballpark, especially in the playoffs when the old place looked its most forlorn.

Well, the specter of the old House is no more. Fans flocking to yet another Opening Day will likely be shocked and saddened by what they see. Gone is the frieze that stood atop the bleachers; gone is the majestic upper deck that touched the sky; gone are the drab gray walls of stone. There used to be a ballpark right here, but now it is gone.

Like most Yankees fans, I have enthusiastically embraced the new Stadium. Still, I’ve been dreading the first time seeing the void it has created. It was comforting to know that the old ballpark was still around…sure, it may have caused pangs of guilt, but at least it was still there. So, while last year’s Opening Day was about welcoming the new place, this year’s Opening Day will be about saying good-bye to the old one.

Both Sliding Into Home (h/t Lohud) and WCBS’ Yankees galleries have been chronicling the Stadium’s demolition, so if you won’t be in the old neighborhood tomorrow, these photos should help bring about closure.

Posted in MLB, Yankee History, Yankees | Leave a Comment »

Regrets? I’ve Had a Few

April 12, 2010 by William Juliano

Over at ESPNNewYork, Ian O’Connor has an interesting article about whether Johan Santana regrets accepting a trade to and signing an extension with the New York Mets. Considering how dismally the Mets’ last two seasons ended, and how uncertain their near-term future now seems, I think that’s a very fair question. What I don’t get in O’Connor’s column, however, is his repeated reference to Santana’s insisting on an additional $5mn above the Mets’ initial offer before compromising on a bump of $2.5mn. O’Connor uses this as a reoccurring theme in the piece, but in doing so seems to suggest that Santana sold his soul for this less than princely (in baseball terms) sum. For example, O’Connor writes:

If he could give back that $2.5 million today, Johan Santana would surely cash out of Queens.

Would Johan Santana be better off if he had never signed with the Mets?

To cash out of Queens, however, Santana would have to give back $137.5mn, not $2.5mn. I am sure Santana would have much preferred being dealt to the Yankees, or even the Red Sox, but the only option presented to him was the Mets. I guess he could have essentially vetoed all deals by refusing to sign an extension, but then he’d have been taking a $100mn gamble on his health. Who knows…on the open market, maybe he would have commanded an even better contract with a more preferable team. Then again, maybe the Yankees would have still opted for C.C. Sabathia, leaving Santana without the leverage he needed to get a better deal? Or, even worse, he could have sustained an injury that would have scuttled any chance at a megadeal. For that reason, I don’t think Santana is experiencing much regret (although he may regret what has become of the Mets).

Another interesting angle to this story is where would the Yankees be had they made the Santana deal? Would they be the ones regretting the decision? The obvious comparison to make is Santana versus Sabathia. Both are essentially making the same amount of money, so the question becomes who is the better long-term value. With Santana coming off a significant surgery, I think it’s safe to say that Sabathia looks like the better bet over the long haul. So, in that respect, the Yankees seem to have made a wise decision.

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Posted in MLB, Roster Analysis, Yankees | 2 Comments »

Spring Heat: Strasburg, Chapman Debut

April 12, 2010 by William Juliano

During the first week of a new season, it’s not very often that the eyes of the baseball world are diverted to the minor leagues. This was no ordinary opening weekend, however. Two of the game’s better pitching prospects in some time were both making their professional debuts, and lighting up radars guns while doing so.

Stephen Strasburg topped out at 99 mph in his pro debut (Photo: Getty).

Stephen Strasburg, perhaps the most heralded collegiate pitcher ever, made his first start for the Harrisburg Senators, the National’s Double-A team in the Eastern League. In front of an overflowing crowd at the Altoona Curve’s (Pirates) home ballpark, Strasburg consistently hit the upper-90s, topping out at 99 on three occasions, according to ESPN’s Keith Law (whose scouting reports are a must read). Law also stated that while Strasburg did lack fastball command at times, his curve ball had a “sharp two-plane break and a downward finish”. Even though Strasburg may be ready for the majors now, he does need to fine tune his change-up, so perhaps his stint in the minors will give him the opportunity to do that. Law concludes that 8-10 minor league starts should be more than enough to accomplish the task, which probably makes Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo smile as that would be more than enough time to keep Strasburg under the team’s control for a seventh season.

Cuban lefty Aroldis Chapman also made his U.S. professional debut on Sunday, taking the mound for the Triple-A Louisville Bats, the Reds affiliate in the International League. Apparently not impressed by Strasburg’s heat, Chapman engaged in a little bit of “anything you can do, I can do better”. According to MLB.com, Chapman hit at least 100mph five times, including a pitch of 101. It should be noted, however, that Strasburg’s velocity readings were recording by Law’s radar gun, while the AP report may have been relying on a souped-up stadium reading. Regardless, Chapman was dealing some serious heat, and like Strasburg, should be ready for the majors before the summer. Still, Larry Parrish, manager of the opposing Toledo Mudhens, did throw a little cold water on the heightened expectations. “He wasn’t J.R. Richard or Nolan Ryan out there,” Parrish said. “Today, he walked one. In the big leagues, he would’ve walked eight.”

Obviously, both Strasburg and Chapman have enough talent to be effective in the majors right now. So, why are they making minor league debuts? It has become fashionable to blame both decisions on economics. Basically, by keeping Chapman and Strasburg in the minors until at least early May, the Nats and Reds will delay the service time clock enough to ensure that each pitcher remains under their control for another season (players with six or more seasons are eligible for free agency).

Arodlis Chapman topped the 100mph mark five times in his pro debut (Photo: Cincinnati Enquirer)

While an economic basis for Chapman’s and Strasburg’s demotions is compelling, it does seem as if each could use a few minor league starts to fine tune pitches and mechanics. No scouting report has suggested that either is flawless, so in this instance, maybe we can give the Nats and Reds the benefit of the doubt? After all, the Reds had no problem letting Mike Leake, who was drafted 8th overall in the 2009 draft, jump straight from college to majors. Interestingly, Leake also made his professional debut on Sunday by beating the Cubs. I guess it didn’t take long for Leake to pick up on this time honored baseball tradition.

Strasburg against Altoona: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K (82 pitches, 55 strikes)

Chapman against Toledo: 4 2/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K (85 pitches, 55 for strikes)

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One More for the Road

April 11, 2010 by William Juliano

  • The Yankees finished their first road trip of the season at 4-2, despite losing the first game in each series.

    AJ Burnett delivers one fo the 92 pitches he needed to earn his first victory of the season.

  • In their brief history, the Rays have never won an April series against the Yankees.
  • A.J. Burnett yielded only two runs in seven innings to earn his first win of the season.  Both runs scored in the first innings, thanks in large part to stolen bases by Jason Bartlett and Carl Crawford. The Yankees have now surrendered 9 stolen bases on 9 attempts.
  • Burnett only needed 92 pitches to get through his seven innings. Uncharacteristically, he also only recorded one strikeout, making it only the third time that Burnett pitched at least 7 innings and struck out one or fewer (but second against the Rays). On September 29, 1999, Burnett didn’t record a single strikeout in 7 innings against the Expos, and then on August 17, 2006, he only struck out one batter against the then Devil Rays.
  • Despite winning the game, the ball wasn’t bouncing the Yankees way. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Evan Longoria skied a pop-up that started off behind the plate, but hit a cat walk and landed safely in fair territory. Joe Girardi argued that the ball should have been called foul, but the Tropicana Dome grounds rules seemed to support the umpire’s decision.
  • The Yankees were on the wrong end of another umpire’s call in the bottom of the 7th. Dioner Navarro popped a ball up into shallow center that landed into the sliding glove of Curtis Granderson. Second base umpire James Hoy ruled that the ball bounced, however, and Navarro was awarded first base.
  • The sliding grab would have been Granderson’s second of the game. Two innings earlier, he made a similar grab on a sinking liner, once again hit by Navarro. After making the catch, Granderson leapt to his feet and doubled Pat Burrell, who had been running on the pitch, off of first. In his attempt to get back to the bag safely, Burrell slid hard into Teixeira, who briefly voiced his displeasure. In the dugout, Burrell could be seen saying that he was hoping the ball would hit him.
  • The two big hits in the game were Jorge Posada’s 2-run HR off of Randy Choate in the 6th inning as well as Alex Rodriguez 2-run double off of Lance Cormier in the 8th. Arod’s double was his second of the game, both of which just missed sailing over the fence. Arod has now had 4 doubles that just missed going out of the park.
  • Derek Jeter, Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano have now hit safely in all six games played this season.

Posted in Game Recap, Yankees | Leave a Comment »

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