This one was for the boss

For the first game back from the all star break, there was a lot of buzz around Yankee Stadium. As mentioned in my previous post, ticket prices were sky high and hard to come by following George Steinbrenner's death. The buzz around the house that George built would quickly turn to somber feelings before the game when the Yanks held a moment of silence for Sheppard and Steinbrenner. Their was also a video tribute to the boss, Jeter gave a quick speech and Mariano Rivera put flowers on home plate during the ceremony.

Once the game began, the crowd was in a quiet hush, still mourning the loss of two iconic figures in Yankees history. What has been over shadowed this entire time is that the bombers were facing the Tampa Bay Rays who are only two games back.

The game may soon become a Yankees Classic following the out come. The Yanks were down in the 8th inning when Nick Swisher blasted a solo shot to tie up the game. With the game still tied in the bottom of the 9th, and with two runners on Derek Jeter stepped to the plate. Earlier in the week Jeter had called Steinbrenner more then a owner, but a friend. With a base hit Jeter could win the game, add to his legacy and include a story book ending all with one swing. Jeter wasn't able to get the job done and passed on the opportunity to be the hero to Nick Swisher. Swisher,who was born in Ohio, just like Steinbrenner, came through with a base hit to right field to score Curtis Granderson from second.

The Yanks won in dramatic fashion and allowed for a player not named Marcus Thames to get pie this season. Not only was it a big win, cause they won it in walk off fashion for the boss. But the Bombers also picked up a game on the second place Rays.

A few quick hits before I go

•  Nobody was in the public announcer booth in honor of Sheppard. Throughout the night their were no announcements over the P.A
• Saturday is Old Timers Day, the plan was to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 1950 World Series team. With the death of Sheppard and Steinbrenner expect it to be a bit over shadowed.
• The Yanks wore patches on there jerseys honoring Sheppard and the boss. They will continue to wear them throughout the season, Sheppard's patch is on the sleeve while Stienbrenner's is above the interlocking NY on the home jerseys and above "york" on away jerseys.

This day in Yankees History : July 1st 2004

Many Yankee fans would like to forget the 2004 season all together. The end result was not what any team would ever want, losing to your rival in embarrassing fashion. The Yankees did win there division that season, finishing before the Sox. But on this date six years ago, there was another great Yankee moment in the Yanks-Sox rivalry.

On warm summer night in the Bronx, the Yanks were looking for a sweep of the Red Sox. In the first two games of the series the Yankees won behind great pitching and timely hitting, but the final game would have everything you could ever ask for in a baseball game.

The night started with Pedro Martinez on the mound for Boston and rookie Brad Halsey pitching for the Yanks. When ever Pedro was on the mound facing the Yanks you knew there would be heat coming from his arm and from the fans in the stand who hated him. This game would be no different. In the first inning Martinez would hit Gary Sheffield with a pitch after Sheff stepped out of the box calling for time while Pedro was in his whined up. Sheffield would yell at Pedro on his way to first base after getting plunked as Pedro stood there looking at him.

The Yanks would get on the board first behind a long two run home run by Tony Clark in the bottom of the second. Jorge Posada would also add to the lead in the fifth inning when he hit a solo shot off Martinez to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. The Red Sox would get back into the game with a two run home run by Yankee killer Manny Ramirez cutting the lead to one. The Sox would tie the game in the seventh when a run scored on a double play ball. The score would remain the same until the 13th inning.

The Bombers had there chance in the bottom of the 9th inning when they had the bases loaded with one out and could not get anyone across. This would be a trend for the next few innings, in the 10th the Yankees had two runners on that they were never able to score the go ahead run. In the 12th inning once again the Yankees had the bases loaded again with one out, and could not score a single run.

The game was already a memorable game game would soon become a classic. With runners on second and third  for the Red Sox with 2 outs in the 12 inning Derek Jeter would show why he is a winner. Trot Nixon came to bat and hit a pop up behind third/ short left field. Jeter running full speed made the catch , took a step and with his momentum went flying into the stands. As his teammates and trainers rushed toward him, Jeter appeared from the stands bloody and bruised, but was able to walk off the field on his own. With Jeter batting second in the bottom of the inning, manager Joe Torre pinch hit for him with Jason Giambi. 

With Jeter out of the game in the top of the 13th, Alex Rodriguez would have to play shortstop and Gary Sheffield would be forced to play third base, a position he hadn't played since 1993. Manny Ramirez would once again smash another home run, this time against Tanyon Sturtze to give the Bosox there first lead of the game.

The Yanks had there last chance in  the bottom of the 13th inning, Posada and Clark made two quick outs before Ruben Sierra singled. Miguel Cario who came into the game in the top of the 10th and had already hit a triple would tie the game for the Yankees with a two out double that scored Sierra. Earlier in the game, Bernie Williams had been the DH but following Jeter leaving the game was forced to play the field, causing the Yanks to lose the DH. Tanyon Sturtze was due up but Torre went to his bench and called upon current Yes Network broadcaster John Flaherty. Flaherty hit a deep fly ball to left field that would score Cairo from second base and give the Yankees unbelievable win.

The Yankees would have an 8 1/2 game lead over Boston and never looked back. During this game every single bench player was used on both teams except Nomar Garciaparra. Garciaparra claimed to have had an ankle injury and could not play, instead he sat on the bench while all of his teammates stood on the top step of the dugout. Nomar not playing looked even worse when Derek Jeter, dove into the stands to make an incredible play. Jeter showed how no matter the situation he would do anything to win, including risking his body, while Garciaparra was afraid of injury.

This game can still be watched on Yankee Classics on the YES Network. Even if you are someone who doesn't like to watch old games this is a must watch, and cant even be described to its fullest in a post. I think that Michael Kay said it the best following the game winning hit by Flaherty "This is one of the greatest games you will ever see."

The Yankee Years : Jeff Weaver Edition

While the Yankees take on Joe Torre and the Dodgers this weekend, I though that it would be a good time to look back on the only Ex-Yankee on the Dodgers Jeff Weaver.

In July 2002 the Yanks looked to make a trade for a starting pitcher. In part of a three way trade including Oakland and Detroit, the Yanks acquired Weaver and traded away Ted Lilly. Looking back the trade was an overall mess, the Yanks got rid of Lilly who would go on to be a decent pitcher and Oakland traded away Jermey Bonderman who has had his struggles in the majors but has also showed flashed of greatness at time (Ex:2006). Once Weaver was a Yankee he would go back and fourth between the bullpen and the rotation.

In Weavers first start as a Yankee he faced the Boston Red Sox and gave up 5 homers yet got a no decision, this game can still be seen time to time on the YES Network as a Yankee Classic (Not because it was Weavers first start,but because Jorge Posada drew a walk off walk).

To start the 2003 season Weaver had to battle Jose Contreras for the 5th starters job. Weaver would win the job, but pitched poorly during the regular season and would be moved back to the bullpen. Weaver never looked confident out on the mound, after giving up a home run or an error was committed by a fielder, Weaver would often fall apart. Most of the season Weaver would get booed off the mound at home but it would get worse for Weaver.

Weaver had been left off both the ALDS and ALCS rosters during the 2003 postseason but was on the World Series roster. In a vital game 4, Weaver came into an extra inning game and pitched a scoreless inning of work, Torre liked what he saw and sent him out there for a second inning of work even though Mariano Rivera was out in the bullpen. Weaver would surrender a game winning home run to light hitting Marlins shortstop Alex Gonzalez. The Marlins never looked back and would go on to win the series. This would be Weavers final pitch as a Yankee.

Although Yankee fans never seemed to like Weaver, i think that they would have loved to keep him if they could predict the future. In the 2003-2004 off season Weaver was traded to the Dodgers for Kevin Brown.