New York Sports Fan Blog

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

Derek Jeter’s wry sense of humor is often obscured by his business-first agenda of winning baseball games for the Yankees. The fun layer is on display more behind closed doors than for the general public.


He offered a glimpse earlier this week, when Jeter was given a half day off as the club’s designated hitter. Jeter cracked to manager Joe Girardi that if all he needed to do was DH, he could probably add another five years to his already-impressive Major League career. The remark was not serious, and besides, Jeter seems to be doing just fine where he is. When the Yankees hit Fenway Park on Friday to renew acquaintances with the Red Sox in the game’s top rivalry, Jeter will likely be at shortstop and — as usual — looking only one game and one series ahead.

Click here to read the full article – By Bryan Hoch of MLB.com

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

The Yankees juggled their starting rotation in order to create a situation where Joba Chamberlain would start this weekend. But there were no guarantees that it would be a particularly great start.


Once the club’s hottest second-half pitcher, Chamberlain twice gave back leads in a bumpy five-inning effort before the Mariners sent 10 men to the plate in a five-run seventh inning Sunday. Seattle averted a four-game series sweep with a 10-3 victory over New York at Safeco Field.

Playing in full view of a out-of-town scoreboard teasing them with the results of the Red Sox-Rangers game in Arlington, the Yankees were unable to improve their lead in the American League East past 7 1/2 games, even after Boston’s loss.

Click here to read the full article – By Bryan Hoch of MLB.com

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

Derek Jeter can be the biggest cheerleader in the Yankees’ clubhouse when it comes to the topic of speedy ballgames, believing that quick-working pitchers keep the defenders sharp and their bats lively.

As the Yankees wrapped up their best homestand of the season on Sunday, outslugging the A’s, 7-5, Jeter had plenty to appreciate about the state of his team. New York won nine out of 10 games coming out of the All-Star break, picking up 5 1/2 games on Boston in the American League East in the process.

Click here to read the full article – By Bryan Hoch of MLB.com

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

Major League Baseball makes sure to provide all players with itineraries for the All-Star Game experience, but it might as well advise them to just direct their questions to Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera.

When it comes to handling the Midsummer Classic, perhaps no one knows this annual practice better than the two veteran Yankees, who are enjoying their 10th All-Star selections this week — the only active players to represent their current clubs that many times.

Click here to read the full article – By Bryan Hoch of MLB.com

New York Yankees Sports Memorabilia
and other New York Yankees Autographs
Below are links to memorabilia available for popular New York Yankees players.

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

Mickey Mantle Autographs and Memorabilia

Derek Jeter Autographs and Memorabilia

Johnny Damon Autographs and Memorabilia