There aren't many teams hotter these days than the New York Yankees. They were sporting a 6-game winning streak heading into Sunday night's game in Fenway. They ended up losing to the Red Sox 9-3 but still managed to win another series and still remain only half a game out of 1st place and having the best record in baseball.

Friday night Phil Hughes offically arrived to the rotation. He pitched 7 strong innings and outlasted Boston ace Josh Beckett to gain his 4th win of the year. Nick Swisher homered off of Beckett to start the scoring and the Yanks never looked back. The Yanks won 10-3.

Saturday Mark Teixeria and Francisco Cervelli each drove in 5 runs en route to another Yankee laughter 12-3. Teixeria homered 3 times! He became only the 2nd Yankee ever to hit 3 HRs against the Red Sox.

Sunday night the Sox got a bit of revenge and salvaged the last game of the series 9-3. AJ Burnett recorded his 1st loss of the season. The lone bright side is A-Rod's HR in the 4th inning. His 3rd of the season and gets us to update the Chasing800 HR Tracker!

The big picture this weekend was how much better the Yankees are than their divison rivials. Of course this means nothing, as Boston won the 1st 8 meetings between the 2 teams last season then unraveled down the stretch but it's still a good sign for New York. The best thing in my opinion coming out of this weekend was Phil Hughes. He has certainly arrived as a legitament force in the rotation. You aren't taken seriously unless you can win in Boston and face the pressure. Whether it's May or October, pitching in Fenway is a big task and Hughes was up for it and passed. He will be a huge factor for the Yankees, especially if Javy Vazquez can't right himself.

The Yanks win 2 of 3 in Boston, again! Another positive note going forward. Teixeria is getting hot and A-Rod is finding his swing as well. The Yanks continue to get hit by the injury bug with Nick Johnson being placed on the DL on Saturday and Alfredo Aceves tweaking a lower back muscle again,thus leaving him unavailable for a few days. With that being said, the Yanks continue to win. They now travel to Detriot and face old friend Johnny Damon and the Tigers.

C800 Asks You: With the Yanks taking 2 of 3 in Boston for the 2nd time this season, should the Sox be seen as a serious threat to the Bombers? How important was Hughes' performance Friday night? Share your thoughts on The Forum!

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CC Sabathia is in his 10th major league season, 2nd with the New York Yankees. He spent his first 7 plus seasons with the Cleveland Indians and half a season with the Milwaukee Brewers.

His current contract with the Yankees is the richest in major league history for a pitcher. CC was the 2007 CY Young Award winner with the Indians.

Sabathia attended Vallejo High School, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, and football. During his teen years, Sabathia played summer baseball in the Major League Baseball youth program Rebuilding Baseball in Inner cities.

Sabathia has four plus pitches: fastball, slider, cutter, and changeup. Sabathia had a career batting average of .300 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 40 ABs, including a 440-foot home run on June 21, 2008 with the Indians. Later that season he hit another home run as a member of the Brewers, thus marking him the 3rd pitcher in history to hit a homerun as a member of both the AL and NL.

In his 1st season in pinstripes, CC went 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA, He won the ALCS MVP against the Angels. He went on to win his 1st World Series as he helped the Yanks win their 27th title. In 2010 he looks to repeat his dominant 2009 season and repeat as World Champion. The future is bright for Sabathia..that's a good thing, because New York is where the lights shine the brightest.

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The Yankees keep on rollin'. Yesterday they completed a 3 game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles. The sweep gives New York another series win, their 9th in 10 tries.

With Curtis Granderson, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera all sidelined due to injury for this series, the Yanks were still able to be victorious. Solid outings by CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Andy Pettitte gave the Yanks little to worry about while their superstars were out of action.

Pettitte left Wednesday's game against Baltimore after 5 innings with stiffness in his left elbow. We surely hope this is not a major issue as Pettitte has been brillant in each of his outings this season.

The Yanks go and play the Boston Red Sox again and it'll be interesting, as always to see how the series pans out. Boston is reeling these days, their aces Josh Beckett and John Lackey are under-performing and the lineup is lacking the usual luster. The Yanks have issues of their own,mainly with health, but playing the Sox always brings out the best in the Bombers. It'll be interesting to watch.

C800 Asks You: If Andy Pettitte's injury turns out to be serious, what options do the Yankees have to replace him? When is A-Rod's bat going to heat up? How will this weekend's Yankee-Sox showdown play out? Share your thoughts on The Forum!

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Another nice weekend for the Yankees, this time at the hands of the Chicago White Sox. They took 2 of 3 from the Chi-Sox and have now won 7 of the first 8 series of the year.

Friday night, Derek Jeter reminded everyone why he's the Captain. He had 3 hits, a HR, single and a triple with 4 RBI. I was in attendance Friday and correctly predicted Jeter's homer just moments before. Mariano Rivera came in for the save,which marked his 51st consecutive home save. That ties him for the most all-time. The Yanks won 6-4.

Saturday, Javy Vazquez' struggles continued. He couldn't get out of the 4th and was booed again upon his exit. The Yanks were able to come back from a 5-1 deficit but after going ahead on Nick Swisher's HR in the 6th, the bullpen gave the lead right back to Chicago who went on to win 7-6.

Sunday's game was classic Bronx Bombers all the way! Robinson Cano continued his hot start and hit his 9th HR of the season. Swisher homered for the second day in a row and Brett Gardner hit one as well. Phil Hughes pitched 7 scoreless innings as he continues to impress. The Yanks won 12-3.

The upside to this weekend was the performance of Hughes who pitched brillant against a tough Chicago offense. Mark Teixeria had 6 hits this weekend, he had 11 in all of April, so certainly his recent turn around has many Yankee fans excited. As for Robbie Cano, what else can you say? He is the biggest threat in the Yankee lineup and is carrying the offense for the most part. Hopefully this is a season long trend and not just a nice month.

With the good, you have to accept the bad. Curtis Granderson injured his groin on Saturday as he was running the bases going from 1st to 3rd. He was placed on the 15-day DL after the game, but it appears he'll be out of action for about a month. He's been a solid presence in the lineup and on the field so we all wish him a speedy recovery.

With Granderson out, that gives Marcus Thames and Randy Winn some face time and hopefully both men can fill in and give the Yanks a solid platoon in Curtis's absence. Thames has been good offensively so far, and he made a nice catch in LF on Sunday. Let's keep that up Marcus,we're going to need you!

C800 Asks You: With Curtis Granderson on the DL, is his presence missed in the lineup or on the field? Mark Teixeria's bat appears to be heating up, is that going to help Alex Rodriguez get out of his recent struggles? Share your thoughts on the Forum.

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This was not a good weekend out in Anahiem for the Yankees. It usually never is when the Yanks head out west. They lost their 1st series of the year, one where they were ahead in both games they lost.

Friday night the Yanks had a 3-1 lead but AJ Burnett couldn't hold the lead. Joba Chamberlain later gave up a go-ahead HR to Kendry Morales and the Angels were victorious. Sunday, the Yanks were up 3-0 but Javy Vazquez' early season struggles continued and he couldn't hold the lead either. The knockout blow was once again dealt in the later innings off the Yankee bullpen. Damaso Marte served a 3-0 fastball down the heart of the plate to Morales in the 7th inning and hit a 3-run HR to seal the deal and put Anahiem up 8-4. The Yankees never recovered.

In between the losses was the performance of Andy Pettitte. He was excellent. He gave New York 8 solid innings giving up 1 run while issuing no walks. He was able to earn his 3rd win of the season.

Another high point of the weekend was Robinson Cano. Cano hit his 5th HR of the season on Sunday off of Angels Starter Scott Kazmir. It was Robbie's 3rd HR this season off Kazmir alone. His emergence as an elite hitter in the 5th spot of the lineup behind Alex Rodriguez is exciting to watch.

Tough weekend for the Bombers but I'm sure they'll rebound just fine. They travel to Baltimore this week to complete their 9 game road trip. With the Orioles sitting at 3-16 for the season, it's probably the best time for the Yanks to go pay a visit. Phil Hughes starts the opener on Tuesday night and looks to keep on rolling after his impressive 8 inning, 10 strikeout, near no-hit performance against Oakland last week.

C800 Asks You: With the Yankees losing 2 of 3 in Anahiem this weekend,does this still make you worry about coming back here in October? Should we really be worried about Javy Vazquez? Will Robinson Cano ever slow down? We're talking Yankees baseball on The Forum. Come check us out, register and share your thoughts!

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Jorge Posada is in his 16th season in the majors, all with the New York Yankees. He has been apart of 5 All-Star teams (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007) and 4 World Championship teams (1998, 1999, 2000, 2009).

Posada is from Puerto Rico. In high school Jorge participated in basketball, volleyball, track, and baseball. As a baseball player in the 1988-89 season, he was named an All-Star player at shortstop. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 24th round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft. He played second base in his 1st season in the minors but was then moved to catcher.

Posada made his MLB debut in 1995 but only appeared in 1 game. In'96 he appeared in 8 games but was not apart of the postseason roster so he did not recieve a championship ring for that season. He was however with the team to take in the expirence of October baseball in the Bronx, something that helped him greatly as the years went on. In 1999 Posada became the full-time catcher for the Yankees once his mentor, and current manager Joe Girardi left via free agency.

He is the only Major League catcher to ever have hit .330 or better with 40 doubles, 20 home runs, and 90 RBIs in a single season. Posada and Yogi Berra are the only Yankees catchers to hit 30 home runs in a season. Since the 2000 season, Posada has had more runs batted in, home runs, and hits than any other catcher in baseball.

Jorge is known to be all business and have an old school mentalily. Which is what Yankee fans love about him. He has been a consistent force in the Yankee lineup since becoming an everyday player. He is one of the "Core Four" remaning from the Joe Torre Dynasty Years. He along with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte make up the legendary quartet. To take things a step further, this year marked the 1st time in American Sports history that 3 players have played together for the same team for 16 straight season. He accomplished that with Jeter and Rivera. Pettitte was gone from the 2004-2006 seasons.

He is looking to add his 5th championship this season with the Yanks. He remains an importance figure both on and off the field. The newer Yanks look to him for his veteran leadership and his wisedom behind the plate. While Posada has had his issues at times with Yankee pitchers, his overall presence looms great importance for the Bombers. I expect another solid season in 2010 from Jorgie. I also expect him to finish his career as a Yankee. One of the best catchers in all of baseball calls the Bronx home and for that I am greatful he wears the pinstripes. I wouldn't want it any other way!

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The Yankees started off their west coast trip on a positive note. Javier Vazquez had a strong outing, Alex Rodriguez went deep again and the bullpen held the game together for the 7-3 victory.

A-Rod's 2nd HR of the year allows us to update the HR tracker and hopefully is a sign of things to come as Alex appears locked in the past few games.

Derek Jeter returned to the lineup after missing Sunday's game with a head cold but went 0 for 5. Jorge Posada knocked in 2 runs, as did Nick Swisher. The Bombers are now winners of 5 straight.

Taking the mound for Game 2 of the series against the A's is Phil Hughes. Hughes got the win on April 15th against the Angels in his 1st start of the year. He looks to improve on his 5 inning performance. He says he feels more comfortable now as a member of the Yankee rotation,let's see if that turns into a win for Phil.

If A-Rod continues his recent hitting then it'll be a matter of time before Mark Teixeria gets on board with the longballs and starts hitting everything in sight,much like last year, once Alex returned from injury.

The Yanks should take 2 of 3 from Oakland in this series and winning Game 1 surely makes that a lot easier. I'm just curious to see how Hughes pitches this time out and see if his changeup is effective.

C800 Asks You: What do you expect from Phil Hughes out of the 5th spot in the rotation? Does he even belong there? Share your thoughts on the Forum.

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Winning a championship is a difficult task. Defending it is often even harder. That is why the Yankees 9-3 start to the 2010 season is impressive.

The Champs have continued from where they left off last Novemeber. Much of the success of last season has translated early on this season. The Yanks are atop of the A.L. East after the first 2 weeks of season. That's also with Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeria combining for 2 HRs. Fast starts by Derek Jeter (.380 3 HR 9 RBI) and Robinson Cano (.356 4 HR 9 RBI) have led the charge offensively, meanwhile CC Sabathia (2-0 2.84 ERA), AJ Burnett (2-0 2.37ERA), and Andy Pettitte (1-0 0.75 ERA) are still in postseason form. Mariano Rivera (4 SV) and Joba Chamberlain (2.84 ERA) had led the way in the bullpen.

It's nice to see everything coming along as smooth as it for the Bombers, considering in recent years, they've gotten off to slow starts. The Yankees have been picked by many to repeat as World Champs so this is no surprise. They have won their first 4 series of the season,all against playoff caliber teams (Boston,Tampa Bay, Anahiem, and Texas). So you really can't say they haven't been tested. In both the Boston and Tampa series, the Yanks lost the first game of the series, only to come back and win the next 2 to win the series.

Sweeps are nice but winning series is the goal. If the Yanks can do that, they'll be a .600 winning team and should cruise right into the postseason....yea, yea I know, it's only April 19th, and I'm getting a little ahead of myself talking about the playoffs but when your team is the defending World Champs, you have the right to do so!

In the coming week, the Yanks head out west to Oakland and Anahiem. The west coast trip is always a test for them but now with the monkey off their back with Anahiem, there isn't much worry about making the trip in Yankeeland. I'm not crazy about 10:05 pm games, but after a long day, a Yankee game putting me to bed sounds like a good idea. Sorry Kim Jones, no post game for me this week.

Let's see what the Yankees do this week on the left coast. Does Cano's hot hitting continue? Will A-Rod hit a couple HRs so we can see the HR counter go up and up? Is Javy Vazquez going to turn things around after a few poor outings? What do you think? Share your thoughts on the Forum!

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Another good series is in the books for the New York Yankees as they win their second straight. This one coming at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays.

On Friday night Javier Vazquez made his Yankee return but it wasn't one for the ages. He was hit hard and gave up 8 runs in his first outing of the season. The Yanks dropped the opener of the series but they didn't let the loss affect them for long.

Saturday afternoon was all Pinstripes. The Yankees dominated every part of the gamein a 10-0 win. Pitching saw CC Sabathia come four outs away from pitching a no-hitter, defense saw Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeria made amazing plays at the corners to preserve the no-no, and the offense saw Robinson Cano continue his hot start to the season with his second HR of the year to start the 10-run outburst. It also saw A-Rod record the 1,000th hit of his Yankee career. Still, the story was Sabathia who rebounded quite nicely after getting roughed up in Boston for his first start of the year. CC looked good as he was spotting his fastballs and getting swing and misses from his chaneup.

On Sunday AJ Burnett took the hill and delivered a quality start as he pitched seven strong innings. Alex doubled twice and drove in two runs. We're still awaiting his first big fly of the season but maybe he's waiting to get back to the Bronx to do that.

So the Yanks win their second series in a row after losing the first game. That's a good sign considering they'll need to look at that come October (assuming they make it of course). Nothing new to the Bombers as they lost Game 1 of the 2009 World Series at home to the Phillies and they went on to win it all.

The first week of the season is over and all pieces of the team seem to be clicking early on. It's only been six games but they took two of three from the Rays and the Red Sox, two teams that are going to the Yanks main competition all year. Every game counts with both teams so in essence these were huge wins, even if they are in the early days of the season. Good first week for New York who now heads back home to recieve their championship rings.

C800 Asks You: What did you find as the most impressive aspect of the Yankees play this week against two of the American League's best teams? The Yankees return to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday and they welcome back World Series MVP Hideki Matsui. What are your thoughts on Matsui's return? Share them on the forum.

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The Yankees beat the Red Sox on the strength of Curtis Granderson's 10th inning Home Run off of Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. The Yanks win the opening series of the season and first series with Boston. It's an impressive series win considering the Yanks lost on opening night.

Andy Pettitte was back to his old ways as he showed no ill effects of being 37 years old and having a "weird" spring training. He pitched 6 solid innings giving up 1 run and 7 hits. Sunday night's goat Chan Ho Park got back in stride as he pitched 3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.

Granderson is quickly earning his pinstripes. His HR in the 1oth was his 2nd of the series and put the Yanks ahead for good as Mariano Rivera came in for the save. Granderson hasn't looked particularly good against the lefties he's facedso far, but no Yankee fan will complain at this point.

Last year, the Yanks lost their first 8 games of the season to Boston but have since won 11 of the last 13.

The defending World Champs prove why they won it all last year, as the never say die attitude of the team hasn't left. The Yanks leave Boston on a high note. It was an intense series and they came out on top. It's nice to see them bounce back after a mini-collapse on Sunday night.

So far so good for Granderson and the Yanks. Damon who? Yes, it's only 3 games into the season but it was the Red Sox they beat...wheter it's April or October..winning in Beantown is always sweet!

C800 Asks You: It's only the first series of the season but does this set the tempo for both teams going forward or should we just see this series as just a regular 3 game series? Is Granderson going to be a big player in the Bronx or did he just have a good 3 game strecth? Your thoughts? Share them!

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Mariano Rivera is entering his 16th season in the Major Leagues,all with the New York Yankees. He is a 5-time World Series Champion and 10-time All-Star. His success in the late innings has labeled him by many as the greatest relief pitcher/closer of All-Time. He holds several records for relief pitchers.

Mariano grew up in Panama City,Panama. He worked with his father on a boat catching shrimps and sardines. He played baseball with milk cartons as gloves with his friends on the streets and never considered playing baseball professionally. At 19, Rivera saw his days as a "fisherman" come to an end as he thought it was too tough.

In 1988 Rivera began to play for an amateur team, Panamá Oeste as a shortstop. It was then where Yankees director of Latin American Operations Herb Raybourn saw Rivera play. He saw the athleticism in Rivera but didn't see him as a shortstop. In 1989, Panamá Oeste's needed a pitcher and Mariano volunteered. Raybourn was impressed by the ease in which Rivera threw with and signed him to an amateur contract. He then went into the Yankees Minor League system. He eventually made his Major League debut in 1995 on May 23, 1995. He was almost dealt to the Detroit Tigers for David Wells in '95 but that rumor wasquickly put to bed. During one of his minor league starts Rivera started throwing 95-96 MPH, something he attributes to God as to the sudden change.

In 1996 the Yankees moved Rivera into the bullpen as the set-up man for closer John Wettland and the Yanks never looked back. In '97 Rivera took over as closer and the rest is history. He is well respected all throughout baseball. His signature pitch, the cutter has made numerous players fustrated over the years and has put 5 rings on Rivera's hand.

"You know what's coming, but you know what's coming in horror movies too. It
still gets you." —Mike Sweeney

2010 Rivera will in the final year of his current contract. After winning the 2009 World Series, Mo vowed he could pitch another 5 years. That may be a stretch but I say another 3 years would be good. Rivera showed no signs of slowing down in '09 and I don't see any for '10. I expect another amazing season from this Panamian. More October glory is in store for Rivera...maybe he should be the real Mr. October...but if you asked him, he just simply wants to be known as Mo. We know him as the greatest closer of All-Time.

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Tags: Baseball, Mariano Rivera, Yankees

Andy Pettitte is entering his 16th Major League season,13th with the New York Yankees. He is a 5-time World Series Champion and 2-time All-Star. He also has 6 postseason series-clinching wins and 18 career postseason wins,both are records.

Andy is a father of four. His children, Joshua Blake (born November 3, 1994), Jared (May 28, 1998), Lexy Grace (January 10, 2001), and Luke Jackson (June 20, 2005).

Pettitte was drafted by the Yankees in the 22nd round of the 1990 draft, but opted instead to attend college in Houston. In May of 1991 Pettitte signed with the Yankees in the amateur draft.

Andy has been a 20-game winner twice in his career. In 1996 and 2003. He has been apart of 8 pennant winning teams and 5 championship teams. His 148 wins from 2000 to 2009 were the most in the decade. He has been labled one of the most clutch pitchers of all-time.

2010 Andy looks to continue the success he sustained during the 2009 season. He is entering his final years and this may be his last season in pinstripes but his stuff certainly suggests Pettitte has a lot left in the tank. Pettitte is the no. 3 starter in a rotation that boasts workhouses like CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Javier Vazquez. The Yankees won the World Series on the strength of 3 pitchers, so adding a reliable 4th starter in Vazquez no doubt makes them stronger. Pettitte, should he stay healthy can win 14-15 games and be a major contributor in another championship winning team. Andy signed a 1-year deal that will make him a free agent at season's end, does Andy return to the Bronx in '11? Hopefully he does,but let's stay focused on 2010 and the year Andy will be here. It seems to me, he'll be Ol' Reliable again. October baseball awaits this veteran lefty.

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Tags: Andy Pettitte, Baseball, Yankees

Derek Jeter is entering his 15th Major League season at the age of 35. He will turn 36 on June 24th. He is once again the starting shortstop and Captain for the defending World Series Champion New York Yankees. Here are some tidbits about Derek you may or may not know.

Jeter was born in Pequannock Township, New Jersey, in 1974. Derek and his family moved to Kalamazoo Michigan when he was four. During his childhood Derek's sister Sharlee would take him to Yankee games during the summer in which they stayed with their grandmother in New Jersey. Derek became a huge fan of the Yankees. Jeter says his inspiration for playing baseball came from former Yankee Dave Winfield.

Jeter joined his high school baseball team. He also was a member of the high school basketball team. In 2003 Derek was inducted into the Kalamazoo Central High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Jeter was drafted in 1992 as the sixth overall pick by the Yankees. He was discovered by Astros scout Hal Newhouser. The Astros chose to overlook Jeter in the '92 draft because Derek insisted on a salary bonus of $1 million or more to sign. The Yankees then chose him and the rest is history.

Derek Jeter is a 10-time All-Star and 5- World Series Champion. He has won 4 Glove Glove Awards and 4 Silver Slugger Awards. He is just coming off his 2nd best season of his career. While his defense and declining skills came into question, Derek rose to the occasion and quited the critics and won a championship.

In 2010 Jeter is looking to repeat the success of 2009 both personally and with his team. At season's end, Derek will be a free agent. He has said it is his every intention to remain a Yankee until he retires and the Yankees have stated the same. This generation's Joe DiMaggio has a lot to smile for. He's done it all in a place where the lights shine brightest. 2010 looks to be another winnning and successful season for Derek Jeter...what else would you expect?

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Tags: Baseball, Derek Jeter, Yankees

When you think of the Yankees, there are so many moments and players that come to mind. I have been fortunate enough to witness the latest run of great Yankee teams from 1996 to today. Some people will tell you about Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Yogi Berra and how they ruled New York way back when. Today, I can tell you my three favorite Yankees of All-Time and why.

3- David Cone 1995-2000

He was the ace of the staff upon his arrival in 1995 and lived up to the expectations that came along with it. His 140 pitch outing in Game 5 of the 95 Divison Series against Seattle was gutsy. He laid everything he possibly had out on the field and that's what I liked about his most. He gave it everything he got. During his tenure in pinstripes, the Yankees won four World Series championships. He threw a perfect game in 1999 against the Expos. He was one of the best pitchers in baseball during his prime. Although at the end of his run in the Bronx, he was a shell of a pitcher he once was, he still had enough to get Mike Piazza out in Game 5 of the 2000 World Series against the Mets in a crucial spot. His funky windup, sweeping slider, and intense demeanor on the mound makes his one of my favorite Yankees of all-time.

2- Mariano Rivera 1995-Present

This should really be labeled as 1-B but nontheless, Rivera surely makes the list. 500 plus saves from a guy who wasn't a great starter. I have seen the evolution of Mariano first hand,as many of us have. A skinny young thrower, to a skinny old legend. His countless performances in the most pressurized situations makes him immortal. He did have some slips along the way, '97 ALDS against the Indians, '01 Game 7 World Series, '04 Game 4 ALCS, but between all that, he is the greatest pitcher in postseason history. His calm attitude as he enters the game, mostly with the game on the line, brings relief to an already intense moment. His humble attitude and strong personality make for a great baseball player. Who knows how much Rivera has left in the tank but once he's done, we will surely miss seeing a legend who was always in his prime, do his craft, as no one will ever be able to replicate his success.

1- Derek Jeter 1995-Present

How could he not be no. 1on the list. He is the symbol of success. Since his full time arrival in 1996 the Yankees have won 5 World Series titles and have become a global juggernaut, in part of the Captain's presence. From his Flip in 2001,to his dive in the stands in 2004, Jeter has been the backbone of the Yankees. In a time where scandals have hit most superstars, both on and off the field, Jeter has had none. His team first attitude,his everyday hustle, and his drive to win has won over New York over the last 15 years. Whatever he touches turns to gold. There is no higher standard in sports, than Derek Jeter. He is what the Yankees franchise symbolize, pride,power and tradition. Derek carries that with him everyday. His numerous accomplishments over his career can make anyone envious,but instead, they bring determination to everyone. He may not be the best player in baseball, or even the best player on his team, but Derek Jeter is Mr. Yankee. He is one of the best players of his generation and he is a future Hall of Famer. Along with Rivera, there is no one better, with the game on the line, with the lights shining bright, and with all eyes on him...that's why Derek Jeter is my favorite Yankee of All-Time!

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Tags: Baseball, David Cone, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Yankees

Is this Derek Jeter's last year in pinstripes? It could be. Jeter is entering his final season of the 10-year $189 million contract he signed before the 2001 season. Logic says Jeter will remain in the Bronx until his career is over. I sure hope so.

Jeter is considered one of the best players of his generation. The number of accomplishments he has in his 14 year career are incredible. He is the all-time hits leader among shortstops, all-time Yankees hit leader, a ten-time All Star, a five-time world champion, and is the only player in history to win the All-Star and World Series MVP in the same season. He also just won Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year for 2009. That is just some of what Derek has done in his time with the Yankees.

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman has made it known that he does not like to talk about contract extensions or contract status until the final season has been played out. Such an example occured during the 2007 season. Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada were pending free agents and wanted to have their contracts in place for the 2007 season so there would be no distraction of contract talk. Cashman and the Yanks held firm to their business plan of not re-negiocating contracts until season's end. The move didn't sit too well with Rivera and Posada who were looking at a future that might not longer see them playing in the Bronx. The Yanks ultimately re-signed both players. Rivera is a free agent after this season to go along with Jeter.

The question is what will the Yankees offer Jeter to finish his career in pinstripes? Surely the Captain has to retire a Yankee. Jeter will turn 36 on June 26 and the Yankees could give Derek a three or four year deal around 15 million. Would that be enough for Derek? One would think it is. With all the endorsements that Jeter is committed to, that number of 15 million could easily be doubled if he remains a Yankee. There is no brighter stage than Yankee Stadium and the New York Yankees and Derek knows that. It'll be interesting to see how the Yankees address his contract situation in the coming year.

As a fan, I can NOT see Jeter in any other uniform. It's weird seeing him in the Team USA uniform for the World Baseball Classic, how can I see him in an Angels jersey or a Cubs jersey? I think Jeter will stay in pinstripes until he's ready to call it quits on an amazing career. A career full of milestones, money, championships, and memorable plays....and how can we forget women. Jeter is said to be getting married in the fall of 2010. My friends, we have seen it all. Derek Jeter is this generation's Joe DiMaggio. An icon, a legend, an idol, a larger than life persona, but most importantly...a Yankee.



Career highlights and awards
10× All-Star selection (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
5× World Series champion (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009)
4× Gold Glove Award winner (2004, 2005, 2006, 2009)
4× Silver Slugger Award winner (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
2× AL Hank Aaron Award winner (2006, 2009)
1996 AL Rookie of the Year Award
2000 All-Star Game MVP Award
2000 World Series MVP Award
2000 Babe Ruth Award
2009 Roberto Clemente Award
2009 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

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Tags: Baseball, Brian Cashman, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, New Yankee Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Yankees

Here we are in the middle of Janurary and Spring Training is about a month away. Most of the big moves have already been made this offseason but there is still one big name out there, Johnny Damon. As good as he would fit in the Yankees lineup this year, I still don't see him returning to the Bronx. As for the 2010 Yankees, I think improved from their 2009 World Championship team. Let's see how..

Curtis Grandersen will the Yankees CF in 2010 and he is a defensive and offensive upgrade over Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner. Curtis can give you 30 HRs, 90 RBI (100 depending on what spot in the lineup he's hitting) and 20-30 steals. He also is a solid defender and while he doesn't quite have the arm Melky has, he does a good one. Melky was traded to Atlanta in the offseason but he's best suited to be a fourth outfielder. It'll be interesting to see how he does with the Braves.

Javier Vazquez was acquired in the afermentioned Melky Cabrera trade with Atlanta. Javy had a nice first half with the Yanks in 2004 but it ultimately ended in disaster in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS when he came out of the bullpen and Damon hit the first pitch Vazquez threw for a grand slam, thus cementing the historic Yankee collapse that season. He is a strong option for a fourth starter replacing Andy Pettitte's spot in the rotation. Pettitte will take the number three spot in the rotation replacing Chien-Ming Wang's spot. The pressure will still be there for Vazquez to perform but with CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Pettitte ahead of him in the rotation, the lights might not be so bright for him this time around. He essentially is replacing Wang on the roster and if the Yanks won without Wang, they can certainly win with Javy being a solid pitcher and winnning around 12 games.

The losses of Damon and Hideki Matsui will hurt the Yankees as they are losing a lot of offensive production but Grandersen and Nick Johnson can help fill most, if not all that void. Vazquez as the projected fourth starter gives the Yankees one of the best rotations in baseball.

So are the 2010 Yankees better than the 2009 Yankees that won the title on November 4th? It's debatable, but I think so. Of course, the season will have to be played to get the answer to that. Until then, the Yankees are STILL the World Champs of baseball!

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Tags: AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, Baseball, Brett Gardner, CC Sabathia, Chien Ming Wang, Curtis Gandersen, Hideki Matsui, Javier Vazquez, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, Nick Johnson, Yankees

The question in Yankeeland is what do the Yankees do with left field for 2010? The answer might not be what most Yankee fans want to hear. It's going to be a small move, like a Reed Johnson or staying with Brett Gardner. That means no Matt Holliday or Johnny Damon.

I would love to see Damon back in pinstripes but his asking price is just to high, even for the Yankees. GM Brian Cashman has made it known to everyone over the last couple years that he wants to get the Yankees younger and more athletic. Re-signing Damon goes against both. Damon is 35 and isn't getting any younger. His health, isn't getting any better and he most certainly would be more of a DH at this stage of his career than a LF. He started out as the Yankees CF in 2006 but because of his declining skills on the field and health issues, he became a LF, now he's a DH. The big thing against Johnny is his asking price of 3 years and $12 million per. Not an area the Yankees want to explore. With the addition of Nick Johnson at DH and no. 2 spot in the lineup, that all likely spells the end of Johnny in pinstripes.

Matt Holliday is a good player, but he wants Teixeria money ($18 million per year), not happening in the Bronx. The Yankees in my opinion have improved their roster from the final out of Game 6 of the World Series, so how much better can Holliday make the world champs? He would be a luxury, not a necessity. I expect him to re-sign with St. Louis.

That leaves Brett Gardner in LF. The Yankees won in the 90's and 2000 with players like Chad Curtis, Shane Spencer, Clay Bellinger, and Tim Raines. They have an All-Star at almost every position so I'd say give Gardner a chance to play a full season out there. If he struggles or gets hurt then you can make a move accordingly, but until then, Brett Gardner will be your Opening Day LF in 2010, I can't see it being any other way.

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Tags: Baseball, Brett Gardner, Brian Cashman, Johnny Damon, Nick Johnson, Yankees

Happy new year to all! If you are reading this, I thank you for doing so. In the new year there will be a bit of a change in format for this blog and some changes will be on the horizon pretty soon. Lets get started with some announcements.

This blog will no longer will a New York sports blog...it will simply be a Yankees blog. I just don't have the time anymore to update on every NY sports team. It will be a Yankees blog until my other projects start to take flight.

Those other projects are Chasing800 and ChasingRecords. Chasing800 will also be a Yankees only blog, but every post put there will also be posted here as well. Once C800 is ready to go, I will make the announcement here.

ChasingRecords will be a NY sports blog that myself and other people will contribute to. I'm not sure when that will come about but once it's up and going, the announcement will be made here.

For now, this blog will be up and running and for anyone who is reading, thank you once again and hopefully you can make the transition with me as smoothly as possible.

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Tags: Chasing 800, ChasingRecords

The Curtis Granderson trade is a good move for the Yankees. At least I wasn't so sure, mainly because of his sub .200 average against lefties but the more I think about it, the more I like the move.

With Granderson's arrival, two of the Yankees key 2009 championship contributors are likely not coming back to the Bronx. Hideki Matsui for sure isn't coming back because he signed a one-year $6.5 million deal with the Angels and the other, is Johnny Damon.

Damon and his agent Scott Boras are apparently worlds apart on their contract talks and with the Yankees signing Nick Johnson on Friday, it appears Damon's door to return is just about shut.

It's a shame because Damon was a good player in many ways for the Yanks. His personality fit perfectly in the clubhouse. His "diminished" skills were perfect for the no 2 spot in the lineup in 2009. His subpar arm and shaky fielding skills led the Yankees front office to believe he is the perfect DH for the 2010 Yanks. Damon still believes he's one of the best players in the game. I have to disagree Johnny. I guess Johnny will go where the money is. That's a shame because if he agrees to a pay cut and DH's for the Bombers, he is certain to be in the thick of another 1 or 2 championship runs in the Bronx. Only time will tell.

I still want the Yankees to grab another arm for the rotation. I'm not sold on either Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes being a solid starter for a defending World Series Champion. Much talk is around Ben Sheets and taking a risk with him. I like that idea, so I hope GM Brian Cashman makes that signing. You can never have enough pitching.

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Tags: Baseball, Brain Cashman, Curtis Ganderson, Hideki Matsui, Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Damon, Nick Johnson, Phil Hughes, Yankees

In case you missed it and you weren't around, here's a roundup of things that went down in NY sports this weekend.

Eli Manning and the Giants snapped their four game losing streak with an overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons yesterday at the Meadowlands. Manning had a career day as he completed 25 of 39 passes for 384 yards. The G-men nearly blew a 14 point second half lead. The Falcons tied it in the final minute of regulation but after winning the coin toss in OT, the Giants got a game winning field goal from Lawerence Tynes on their first possession. The Giants are now 6-4 holding on to second place in the NFC East.

Mark Sanchez and the Jets didn't have it together yesterday in Foxboro. Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and the Patriots took the rookie QB to school. Sanchez threw 4 interceptions and not all that effective. The Pats coming off a much talked about loss to the Colts last Sunday night, came in and released their fustration on their divison rivals. The Jets, after starting the season 3-0, are now 4-6 and a chance at the playoffs appears to be very slim. Brett Favre and his 8-3 start last year wasn't so bad was it?

The Knicks beat the Nets Saturday afternoon in the Medowlands and thus the Nets remain the only winless team in the NBA at 0-13. The Nets came within 1 point of the Knicks in the 4th quarter, but the Knicks started pulling away in the final minutes. The Knicks also played the Celtics yesterday at MSG and lost by 2 in overtime. A hard fought game by New York but Boston got the best of them late in OT.

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Tags: Atlanta Falcons, Basketball, Boston Celtics, Eli Manning, Football, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Mark Sanchez, Nets, New England Patriots