New York Sports Fan Blog

Everyone knew that the Yankees were going to trade top catching prospect Jesus Montero. But no one knew it would simply be a one for one swap.

Brian Cashman took a gamble in trading the mighty Montero for Michael Pineda, a good pitching prospect, but one who has yet to prove himself as Major League ready.

As a Mets fan, by nature it is hard for me to say anything positive about the Yankees, and I laughed when I first heard about this trade, thinking, “Wow, Cashman is a fool.” But after looking further into it, this may have been the move of the decade for the Yankees.

With a starting rotation that was less than stellar in the last few seasons, the Yankees have been looking to get younger with regards to starting pitching, as they have been letting Ivan Nova pitch more than expected. The Yankees kept this train of thought by trading for Pineda, the 6’8 290 pound right hander from the Mariners that makes CC Sabathia look like Steve Urkel.

The question is, who will have a bigger impact in 2012, Pineda on the mound for the Yankees? Or Montero at the dish for the Mariners? Montero showed massive power in his short stint with the Yankees, making the short porch in right field his friend rather quickly. It was a tough call to trade Montero at all due to his strong swing, but most fans knew it had to happen in order for the Yankees to upgrade their rotation (not to mention dumping AJ Burnett off on the Pirates).

The Yankees also are not lacking in the power department. With big bats like Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, and Alex Rodriguez holding down the heart of the order and Curtis Granderson providing a spark no matter where he is placed in the lineup, Brian Cashman felt that Montero was worth giving up for a good pitching prospect, and they got a good one.

Pineda has been clocked in the high 90’s, even topping 100 mph on his fastball several times. Many scouts say he has the potential to make an immediate impact this season for New York, and could even end up being the team’s number one starter by season’s end. CC Sabathia might have something to say about that, of course, but the fact that Pineda has a similar build and a very live fastball could create one of the best 1-2 pitching punches in the American League. With new free agent Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova, and either Phil Hughes or Freddy Garcia behind them in the rotation, the Yankees pitching staff could be poised to help the Bronx Bombers to the World Series for the first time since 2009, when they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies for their 27th championship.

Overall, Pineda appears to be the real deal. Trading proven hitting talent for pitching is always a gamble, as pitching is never a sure thing in this day and age, but the Yankees appear to have reeled in an ace.

Even though they exited in the first round playoffs, the 2011 has to be viewed as a successful campaign for the New York Yankees. Prior to the season, everyone and their mother had the Boston Red Sox winning the AL East. The Yankees were not even a lock to secure a Wild Card bid. Armed with a makeshift starting rotation (C.C. Sabathia, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, rookie Ivan Nova, and the erratic A.J. Burnett) a few slumping players (Jeter, Swisher, Teixera), and injuries (A-Rod, Jeter, Soriano), the Yankees managed to overcome the odds to win the division.

The 2011 season was special for reasons other than the division crown. Two of the franchise’s most celebrated players recorded signature moments over the course of the year. Derek Jeter went 5-5 in a game in which he hit a home run for his 3,000^th career hit. Mariano Rivera converted his 600^th save as well as the career mark for saves with 603. All players that endured lengthy slumps managed to right the ship. Mark Teixera’s batting average was a far cry below his career average, but he managed to tie his second highest mark for home runs with 39 and was a run producing machine. Jeter broke out of his slow start in a big way to finish just shy of a .300 batting average. Nick Swisher also bounced back in a big way after seeing his average sit in the low .200’s in June. Curtis Granderson rebounded strongly from a disappointing 2010 season with MVP caliber numbers. Granderson lead the AL with 41 home runs on the year. Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia delivered very impressive years disproving the critics who said they were done. Ivan Nova burst onto the scene going 16-4 and is a top candidate for AL Rookie of the Year.

The 2012 season could be the beginning of a transitional period for the New York Yankees. Jorge Posada was slowly phased out during the course of the year and Jesus Montero appears to be the future at catcher. Despite the revivals of Garcia and Colon, they are not at all long-term answers in the rotation. Pitching is definitely a necessity this off-season. Nova should not be counted on to deliver the same performance in his second year and Phil Hughes has a history of injury concerns. The Yankees appear to be set with their current roster of positional players, but someone to spell Alex Rodriguez in the field should be brought in as he moves closer and closer to a full-time designated hitter.

Bright Spots: Curtis Granderson, Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, Mariano Rivera, Nate Robertsom

Disappointments: Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Rafael Soriano, A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain

New York Yankees third baseman, Alex Rodriguez will be in the Yankees line up tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies. Rodriguez will bat clean up and will play as the designated hitter. Hopefully his minor groin injury will not affect his plate appearance and he can help the Yankees take another game from the Phillies. Rodriguez was batting a .317 in his last 10 games before his injury occurred.

Alex Rodriguez says he is “at ease, no matter what” with his relationship with a Canadian sports doctor embroiled in a cross-border drug smuggling investigation involving human growth hormone and another drug.

Rodriguez told reporters Tuesday at the Yankees spring training complex that he still does not know when he will be interviewed by federal authorities. The slugger said last week he was “aware” of the investigation and plans to cooperate with the government.

When asked if he is choosing not to talk or has been told not to speak, Rodriguez laughed and says he “thinks the latter.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Alex Rodriguez waited all game long for this hit. Heck, he waited his whole life. The New York Yankees have been waiting, too.

Rodriguez delivered a go-ahead, two-out double in the ninth inning off Brad Lidge and the Yankees took advantage of Johnny Damon’s daring dash to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 on Sunday night for a 3-1 lead in the World Series.

“There’s no question — I’ve never had a bigger hit,” Rodriguez said.

Derek Jeter came through again and Mariano Rivera finished it off as the Yankees moved within one win of that elusive 27th championship and first since 2000.

Rodriguez applauded his own hit, for good reason. Seething since the first inning after again being nailed by a pitch, the highest-paid player in the majors struck back with his potent black bat.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

New York Yankees Sports Memorabilia
Below are links to memorabilia available for Alex Rodriguez.

Derek Jeter was on second base with two outs in the first inning when Alex Rodriguez left him there by flying out to right. But Rodriguez wasn’t unhappy with his turn at the plate.

Rodriguez hit it “good” a few times in last night’s 7-2 Game 1 win over the Twins in the first playoff game at the new Stadium, as he finally started delivering in a Yankees playoff game. He had a pair of run-scoring singles, including a critical one in the Bombers’ game-clinching fifth-inning rally.

On that one, Rodriguez laced an RBI single to left, then scored on Hideki Matsui’s two-run homer, part of the Yankees’ three-run inning. Later in the seventh, he smacked an RBI single off the right-field wall.


Click here to read the full article – By MARK HALE of New York Post

New York Yankees Sports Memorabilia
and other New York Yankees Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Alex Rodriguez.

No champagne. No plastic sheets on the lockers. Just a few handshakes and hugs on the field.

Although the Yankees secured their return to the playoffs Tuesday night after a year away that sometimes felt like an eternity, they haven’t forgotten which clinchers really matter.

Brett Gardner scored the tiebreaking run on Alex Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly in the ninth, and the Yankees got ready for their 14th playoff appearance in 15 seasons Tuesday night with a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

New York Yankees Sports Memorabilia
and other New York Yankees Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Alex Rodriguez.

It was not long after home-plate umpire Marty Foster ejected Alex Rodriguez from Sunday’s 13-3 win over the Orioles that the Yankees flashed back to July, when Foster and Derek Jeter engaged in a spat. Jeter, called out attempting to steal third base that day, contended afterward that Foster told him a tag was unnecessary on the play.


A week’s worth of he-said she-said scuttlebutt ensued and then finally died. Until now.

In the fifth inning on Sunday, Foster ejected both Rodriguez and manager Joe Girardi, reigniting the relationship between the Yankees and an umpire whom Rodriguez twice called “unprofessional.”


Click here to read the full article – By Anthony DiComo of MLB.com

New York Yankees Sports Memorabilia
and other New York Yankees Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Alex Rodriguez.

Alex Rodriguez’s recovery from a March right hip surgery has progressed so well that the doctor who performed the procedure is hopeful that the Yankees slugger won’t need another surgery after the season.

“I don’t want to jinx us, but there is a very good chance we can use conservative treatment,” Dr. Marc Philippon told the New York Post. “We will take our time and look at all the variables, but I am very optimistic and happy.”

Philippon replaced a torn labrum, removed and impingement and drained a cyst in Rodriguez’s on March 9. The third baseman was back in the starting lineup less than two months later.

Click here to read the full article – By Ed Eagle of MLB.com

New York Yankees Sports Memorabilia
and other New York Yankees Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Alex Rodriguez.

ATLANTA — Alex Rodriguez is starting to get his groove back.

“We needed that,” he said. “I needed it. I felt like my body was reacting pretty well.” Rodriguez tied Reggie Jackson with his 563rd home run, and Mariano Rivera earned his 499th career save in the New York Yankees’ 11-7 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night. The Yankees have won two straight after a three-game losing streak. New York took sole possession of second place in the AL East and moved four games behind Boston in the AL East.

Article by Associated Press June 26, 2009

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New York Yankees Sports Memorabilia
and other New York Yankees Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Alex Rodriguez.

Alex Rodriguez Autographs and Memorabilia

New York Yankees Sports Memorabilia
and other New York Yankees Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to collectibles and apparel available for Alex Rodriguez.

Alex Rodriguez Yankees Youth MLB Player T-Shirt

Alex Rodriguez Yankees MLB Prostyle Player T-Shirt

Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees MLB Youth Jersey