Sunday, August 30, 2015
Bronx Sports: Time running out for NY soccer fans
Bronx Sports: Time running out for NY soccer fans: Time Running Out for NY Soccer Fans By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Experienced NYC goalie Josh Saunders recently sp...
Time running out for NY soccer fans
Time Running Out for NY Soccer Fans
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Experienced NYC goalie Josh Saunders recently spoke of the crucial nature of the result of each match as the regular season nears its end, “It’s a playoff mentality. It’s essentially do or die every game.”
This is especially true for the expansion club that represents New York City, NYCFC (7-13-7). The club has loaded up with international superstars such as David Villa, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo. The three designated players are experienced in the highest levels of international competition, but are among the older aged players in the league.
The expectations on the club and from its fans have obviously been too high because of the acquisition of these international stars.
NYC coach Jason Kreis spoke about the newcomers after Saturday’s home loss to the Columbus crew SC, 2-1, “It’s unfair. They think [fans] we are supposed to win because of high paid and high profile stars. Not enough credit is given for how difficult it is. Expansion teams are set up not to succeed.”
One of new but experienced players, Andrea Pirlo of Juventus in Italy admitted problems that exist, “We have to try to improve. We have to not repeat the mistakes that allowed us to lose this game. We don’t do team play very well because we don’t know each other well.”
Before Saturday’s match with the Columbus Crew (11-8-8), Kreis stated his club’s plan, “We have to take these eight games one at a time. We have to put all of our focus and energy into this first game. It’s critical we get three points at home.”
His club lost the first of the eight and end points even more desperately if they are to qualify for the playoff. After this weekend’s loss, he said, “We need to win every game. We have seven games and 21 points available.”
The teams that competed seem to be traveling in opposite directions in the MLS standings. Columbus has won five games and drew in two of their last eight contests while NYC has won only two and drew one of their last eight matches. They are not compiling the points necessary to move forward into playoff contention.
A sell-out crowd of 30,018 attended the match on Saturday afternoon. The fans are still coming to Yankee stadium in large numbers. The next game at the Stadium will take place on Wednesday night, September 16.
#NYCFC #Soccer #Futbol #Yamkee Stadium
Bronx Sports: Heartbreak for NYCFC
Bronx Sports: Heartbreak for NYCFC: Heartbreak for NYCFC BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Andrew Jacobson scored his first goal in more than two years as New York City FC los...
Heartbreak for NYCFC
Heartbreak for NYCFC
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Andrew Jacobson scored his first goal in more than two years as New York City FC lost 2-1 to Columbus Crew SC in front of a sell-out crowd of 30,018 on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
Justin Meram scored the match winner in the 83rd minute as New York City FC drop to 7-13-7 (28 points) and the Crew improve to 11-8-8 (41 points).
Trailing 1-0 in the 29th minute, New York City FC defender Jason Hernandez played a ball in the air ahead to Patrick Mullins, who showed good control by trapping it on his chest. The forward, who was making his first start since July 18, laid the ball off to his side for Jacobson. The midfielder took one touch ahead then unleashed a rocket from 25 yards out to tie the score at 1-1.
It was Jacobson’s sixth goal in Major League Soccer and his first since June 22, 2013.
Columbus took an early advantage thanks to Federico Higuain in the 10th minute. Wil Trapp served up a corner kick into the box that the Crew midfielder met with his head to put the visitors up 1-0.
New York City FC responded less than 20 minutes later, scoring for the first time in a first half since the Club’s 5-3 win over Orlando City SC on July 26.
The Club had a chance to take the lead before the break on a spectacular effort by Mix Diskerud. New York City FC took a quick free kick near midfield. Captain David Villa got the ball on the left and had a nice give-and-go with Frank Lampard, who was making his first start since August 9. Mullins then got the ball and chipped it in front of the net as Mix tried a bicycle kick that went over the bar.
The score remained 1-1 at halftime.
New York City FC came out the aggressor in the second half as Jefferson Mena almost headed home Andrea Pirlo’s corner kick, but it went wide of the net.
After a back and forth half, it was Columbus that escaped with the spoils. The Crew gained possession in midfield as Higuain found Meram on the left side. The second-half substitute cut into the box and placed his shot into the low far corner to make it 2-1.
New York City FC are on a bye Labor Day Weekend and return to action on September 12 against FC Dallas. Kickoff is 8:30 p.m. ET from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (YES Network, WFAN, WADO).
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Dog Days for Slumping #Yankees
Dog Days for Slumping Yankees
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- There is no panic in that New York Yankees clubhouse and the manager Joe Girardi will not say there is. However, there is a sense the Yankees are in this panic mode after losing two out three to the Houston Astros and three of four to the Cleveland Indians on a homestand that concluded Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx.
Wednesday they looked flat at the plate against a scrappy first place Astros’ team. The Yankees were outscored, 21-3 the last two days and could only get five hits in the series finale loss to Houston. They left the Bronx a quiet ballclub as they try and regroup to end August with three games at Atlanta, and three up in Boston.
Two teams, the Braves and Red Sox are gearing for next year. They have nothing to play for and the Yankees need to win a good amount of those games if they want to overtake Toronto for the division lead. Again, the Yankees want to win the division and not be one of the AL wild card teams but the way things have been going as of late even the wild card is becoming a question.
Flat at the plate may be the word, or the long grind of a 162-game schedule has caught up to a ballclub of veterans who may have been expected to suddenly stop hitting and now face the music.
Once the 40-year-old Alex Rodriguez appeared to be having an MVP season, the comeback player of the year. And one can say it was expected that time would take a toll, as A-Rod went 0-for-4 Wednesday and struck out two more times. The fastball all of a sudden has been difficult to reach for Rodriguez who is 9-for his last 71, a .126 average
All of a sudden the designated hitter spot for A-Rod, and staying off the field at third base is not making manager Joe Girardi look like a baseball guru. It worked before the all-star break, but in the month of August part of the reason the Yankees are not scoring runs, and not winning is the lack of production coming from that DH spot in the lineup.
Then there is Mark Teixeira. Also a part of that run producing lineup in the first half of the season, and a catalyst that put the Yankees as one of the top run producing teams in the major leagues, Teixeira has quickly diminished his chances of being an American League MVP candidate.
Teixeira has not played much eight of the last nine games with an injured shin. Take his once hot bat out of the lineup, and in the cleanup spot, add that up with the lack of production from Rodriguez in the third spot, and of course the decline is evident.
And if Carlos Beltran did not have a hot bat, extending his hitting streak to 10 games with one of the five hits, it could be worse. Beltran had that slow start and is batting .338, scored 11-runs, with seven doubles, five home runs and 14 RBI, in his last 21 games.
Go figure the game of baseball, which also during the grind of a long season has to account for ups and downs, and the injuries. Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup again with a bruise from missing a sliding catch Tuesday night, and there is hope he returns to the lineup down in Atlanta.
Brett Gardner is hitting .104 in the month of August, and bats second after Ellsbury. The table setters are once again down for the count, and for the Yankees that holds significance.
“We are just not hitting,” Girardi said. “That’s the bottom line. That’s kind of been the root of our problems.”
And when good pitching faces the Yankees, well not getting the hits or walks is the problem. The Astros’ pitching staff has allowed two or runs fewer in a franchise record nine consecutive games They held the Yankees to a double, a home run, and four runs, a .165 average in the four games.
Yes it was Dallas Keuchel (15-6) Tuesday night and Colin McHugh (14-7) Wednesday afternoon, a combined 29 wins between the two, and the most wins of any pair of teammates in the majors that shut down the Yankees.
That is only part of the equation, because Girardi and the Yankees have also seen the starting pitching fall apart, and that is happening at the same time when the hitting has gone foul. Michael Pineda was reinstated from the disabled list and took the loss Wednesday with 4.1 innings on six hits and five runs,
But the Yankees, also without starter CC Sabathia for an extended period of time, and with an ineffective Ivan Nova on the mound, well they refuse to say there is panic in their quarters.
“We did face the number one pitching team in the American League,” Girardi said about his team and the inability to hit and score runs. And the explanation from Gardner, an old baseball axiom was, “It is contagious.”
It was quiet in that Yankees’ postgame sanctuary of a locker room. No loud music, or much talking. In fact A-Rod was nowhere to be found. Teixeira said he will rest again for the first game Friday down in Atlanta but said it has been a tough stretch of games, 16 straight before an off day and that may be attributed to this sudden lack of offense again
Or is it that grind and the end of August that has caught up with the aging Yankees of Rodriguez and Teixeira?
“The energy is fine,” Teixeira said. “We just have not been swinging the bats. We went through a really great stretch for a while and now we are going through a tough stretch and hopefully we will get hot again.”.
And with the way Toronto keeps winning, and the Blue Jays appear to be going through a good stretch, the Yankees will have to get that energy going again and real soon.
Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Twitter@Ring786 Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
Sent from my iPad
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- There is no panic in that New York Yankees clubhouse and the manager Joe Girardi will not say there is. However, there is a sense the Yankees are in this panic mode after losing two out three to the Houston Astros and three of four to the Cleveland Indians on a homestand that concluded Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx.
Wednesday they looked flat at the plate against a scrappy first place Astros’ team. The Yankees were outscored, 21-3 the last two days and could only get five hits in the series finale loss to Houston. They left the Bronx a quiet ballclub as they try and regroup to end August with three games at Atlanta, and three up in Boston.
Two teams, the Braves and Red Sox are gearing for next year. They have nothing to play for and the Yankees need to win a good amount of those games if they want to overtake Toronto for the division lead. Again, the Yankees want to win the division and not be one of the AL wild card teams but the way things have been going as of late even the wild card is becoming a question.
Flat at the plate may be the word, or the long grind of a 162-game schedule has caught up to a ballclub of veterans who may have been expected to suddenly stop hitting and now face the music.
Once the 40-year-old Alex Rodriguez appeared to be having an MVP season, the comeback player of the year. And one can say it was expected that time would take a toll, as A-Rod went 0-for-4 Wednesday and struck out two more times. The fastball all of a sudden has been difficult to reach for Rodriguez who is 9-for his last 71, a .126 average
All of a sudden the designated hitter spot for A-Rod, and staying off the field at third base is not making manager Joe Girardi look like a baseball guru. It worked before the all-star break, but in the month of August part of the reason the Yankees are not scoring runs, and not winning is the lack of production coming from that DH spot in the lineup.
Then there is Mark Teixeira. Also a part of that run producing lineup in the first half of the season, and a catalyst that put the Yankees as one of the top run producing teams in the major leagues, Teixeira has quickly diminished his chances of being an American League MVP candidate.
Teixeira has not played much eight of the last nine games with an injured shin. Take his once hot bat out of the lineup, and in the cleanup spot, add that up with the lack of production from Rodriguez in the third spot, and of course the decline is evident.
And if Carlos Beltran did not have a hot bat, extending his hitting streak to 10 games with one of the five hits, it could be worse. Beltran had that slow start and is batting .338, scored 11-runs, with seven doubles, five home runs and 14 RBI, in his last 21 games.
Go figure the game of baseball, which also during the grind of a long season has to account for ups and downs, and the injuries. Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup again with a bruise from missing a sliding catch Tuesday night, and there is hope he returns to the lineup down in Atlanta.
Brett Gardner is hitting .104 in the month of August, and bats second after Ellsbury. The table setters are once again down for the count, and for the Yankees that holds significance.
“We are just not hitting,” Girardi said. “That’s the bottom line. That’s kind of been the root of our problems.”
And when good pitching faces the Yankees, well not getting the hits or walks is the problem. The Astros’ pitching staff has allowed two or runs fewer in a franchise record nine consecutive games They held the Yankees to a double, a home run, and four runs, a .165 average in the four games.
Yes it was Dallas Keuchel (15-6) Tuesday night and Colin McHugh (14-7) Wednesday afternoon, a combined 29 wins between the two, and the most wins of any pair of teammates in the majors that shut down the Yankees.
That is only part of the equation, because Girardi and the Yankees have also seen the starting pitching fall apart, and that is happening at the same time when the hitting has gone foul. Michael Pineda was reinstated from the disabled list and took the loss Wednesday with 4.1 innings on six hits and five runs,
But the Yankees, also without starter CC Sabathia for an extended period of time, and with an ineffective Ivan Nova on the mound, well they refuse to say there is panic in their quarters.
“We did face the number one pitching team in the American League,” Girardi said about his team and the inability to hit and score runs. And the explanation from Gardner, an old baseball axiom was, “It is contagious.”
It was quiet in that Yankees’ postgame sanctuary of a locker room. No loud music, or much talking. In fact A-Rod was nowhere to be found. Teixeira said he will rest again for the first game Friday down in Atlanta but said it has been a tough stretch of games, 16 straight before an off day and that may be attributed to this sudden lack of offense again
Or is it that grind and the end of August that has caught up with the aging Yankees of Rodriguez and Teixeira?
“The energy is fine,” Teixeira said. “We just have not been swinging the bats. We went through a really great stretch for a while and now we are going through a tough stretch and hopefully we will get hot again.”.
And with the way Toronto keeps winning, and the Blue Jays appear to be going through a good stretch, the Yankees will have to get that energy going again and real soon.
Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Twitter@Ring786 Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
Sent from my iPad
Bronx Sports: #Yankees Falling Fast
Bronx Sports: #Yankees Falling Fast: Yankees Falling Fast Yanks Drop Further from First Place after Series Loss to Houston By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK (SP...
#Yankees Falling Fast
Yankees Falling Fast
Yanks Drop Further from First Place after Series Loss to Houston
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- The Yankees ended a very disappointing homestand with a mark of 5-5 after winning the first three contests.
Before the 10-game home stand began, the Yanks had compiled a record of 32-21 in games at Yankee Stadium. The Yanks had hoped/expected to be secure in first place at the conclusion of the just ended homestand with Minnesota, Cleveland and Houston, but the Wednesday matinee 6-2 loss dropped them to 1.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East.
The three-game series with the Astros was especially embarrassing and does not portend well for the final month of the 2015 season for the New Yorkers. Houston pitching limited the Yanks to four runs in the three games combined. They held the Yankee batters to a minuscule batting average of .165 in the series (15 for 91), and even worse with RISP the Yanks were 0 for 14.
Thanks to the outstanding pitching of Nathan Eovaldi on Monday night, the Yanks were able to register their only win of the series, 1-0 with a walk-off sacrifice fly by Carlos Beltran in the bottom of the ninth, an inning without a Yankee hit. Beltran has been especially effective at the plate as of late. He extended his current hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the first on Wednesday. He has hit safely in 20 of his last 21 games, .338 (23 for 68).
On Tuesday evening, the Yanks were again held to only one run. Dallas Keuchel, the Houston starter, registered his 15th win of the season. Yankee pitching was very troubling as it gave up a season high of 15 runs. Yankee starter Ivan Nova yielded seven runs in four innings. Infielder Brendan Ryan was called upon to pitch the eighth and ninth frames during which he held the Astros scoreless. To add to the club’s embarrassment, he was the most effective of the Yankees pitchers.
Wednesday’s matinee was another disaster for the Yanks. Michael Pineda, in his first start in more than one month, surrendered five runs in 4.1 innings. Each of the nine batters in the Houston starting lineup reached base safely during the contest. The two home runs by designated hitter Evan Gattis raised his team’s total to 174, first in the majors. The win for starter Collin McHugh was his 14th of the 2015 campaign.
Saturday’s and Sunday’s winning pitchers combined total of 29 is the highest of a duo of every major league club.
The Astros are no longer the mediocre National League team of past years. Their 71st win on Wednesday is the highest total they have achieved since 2010 (76-88). Yankee skipper Joe Girardi described the first place club in the American League West, “They pitched very well; they field well; they hit the ball out of the ballpark, and they run the bases well [first place in the American League in stolen bases-97]. That’s a pretty good combination.”
Girardi admitted his team did not hit well, “We didn’t swing the bats well enough versus Cleveland and Houston. It’s been somewhat inconsistent. We got a lot og guys scuffling at the same time. With that’s it’s tough to score runs.” He still remains hopeful. “They can get refreshed. Hopefully, the day off [Monday] will help us physically.”
#Yankees #Astros
Bronx Sports: Gomez was the Story in an Ugly #Yankees Loss
Bronx Sports: Gomez was the Story in an Ugly #Yankees Loss: Gomez was the Story in an Ugly #Yankees Loss Shouting Match Breaks Out in the Bronx By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- The cente...
Gomez was the Story in an Ugly #Yankees Loss
Gomez was the Story in an Ugly #Yankees Loss
Shouting Match Breaks Out in the Bronx
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- The center of attention Tuesday night at Yankees Stadium wasn’t how the Houston Astros easily won a unanimous decision over the Yankees 15-1 which put New York a game back of the Toronto Blue Jays. Instead, Carlos Gomez who was almost wore a uniform of the cross-town Mets was the center of attention.
And for the Mets’ sake, keeping Wilmer Flores was the proper decision. For one thing, Gomez has not made much of an impact in Houston at the plate, and the other aspect of not bringing Gomez to the other side of town is his often and too much of a combative attitude.
Yes, the Yankees could not do anything against Astros’ left hander Dallas Keuchel. He has a 22.0 inning scoreless streak against New York, 2.1 with a 1.13 ERA, and Keuchel became the first 15-game winner in the American League with his 8.0 innings of six hit ball which also gained him more momentum for Al Cy Young Award consideration.
And the Yankees could not get their bats going again, attributed also to a dominant pitcher. The issue of the Yankees once again not scoring runs and getting on base should be more significant for manager Joe Girardi. And there should be this late August concern about right hander Ivan Nova, who gave up five first inning runs and allowed a season high seven runs.
But Gomez and that combative attitude got to Girardi and the Yankees. And on the other side of town the Mets may be relieved they don’t have to deal with a situation that Girardi and his team had to deal with when it came to Gomez.
With the Yankees trailing 9-0 in the sixth inning, and with Gomez at bat, he flied to center off a pitch from Chris Capuano and flipped his bat to the Houston dugout. Gomez said something and the Yankees took exception as the shouting went back and forth.
“When he came back he started yelling at me,” Girardi said. “I wasn’t the guy who said anything. He is a kid who plays hard. But there have been a number of clubs who have taken exception to some of the things he does on the field. He just got a little heated.”
And it went on. As Girardi said, “I just told him, ‘Play the game the right way.’ I know you missed a pitch and you are frustrated by it. I just think it is a little too much.”
Gomez, with that combative attitude would shout back three times, “Shut up” to Girardi and the Yankees bench. And of course that’s when the benches and bullpens emptied with no punches thrown because of the quick actions of the umpires.
But it was another Carlos Gomez incident that occurred on another bad night for the Yankees in the Bronx. And Gomez would later hit his second home run as an Astro, a three run homer to the Yankees bullpen in a six run seventh inning off Capuano, redemption, but not for the Yankees who saw Houston record eight extra base hits and three home runs.
The question is, has Gomez become a team player or one who can’t control this competitive and combative attitude on the field? The Yankees took exception to that fire as they got blown out, and those across town with the Mets may be fortunate they did not have to deal with a player who can spark controversy at any moment.
To the contrary, Houston manager A, J, Hinch was protecting his player. He said, “Carlos is just trying to compete. He’s an emotional player. Obvious they took exception to a few of the actions. It comes from a good place Carlos is just trying to compete. Obviously it is what is is and calmer heads prevailed. It’s a tough feeling on the other side when you have a game like that and it is starting to unravel. He’s an explosive player and can be an impact player If we get a confident version and tonight we saw the emotion,”
Said Gomez, “I did not understand very well what people were yelling at me. I just asked, ‘Why are you yelling at me?’ And then someone came out of the dugout and started screaming, and I said. “Shut up. If you want to tell me something come here and say what you have to say.”
Of course it did not have to come down to the shouting. or the benches and pens coming on the field. Girardi said it is a game of emotions. and there were many times during the course of his playing career where things were said and he showed restraint.
However, Gomez does it his own way no matter how good a commodity he is for the Astros, or for that matter any team. Except the Mets were fortunate to renege on a Gomez deal in their quest to overtake the Nationals, because the last thing they needed was a combative player who would disrupt the good ship at Citi Field.
As for the Yankees, the good thing about baseball is Wednesday and another game with the Astros they need to win.
Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Twitter@Ring786 Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
#Yankees #Astros #CarlosGomez
Shouting Match Breaks Out in the Bronx
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- The center of attention Tuesday night at Yankees Stadium wasn’t how the Houston Astros easily won a unanimous decision over the Yankees 15-1 which put New York a game back of the Toronto Blue Jays. Instead, Carlos Gomez who was almost wore a uniform of the cross-town Mets was the center of attention.
And for the Mets’ sake, keeping Wilmer Flores was the proper decision. For one thing, Gomez has not made much of an impact in Houston at the plate, and the other aspect of not bringing Gomez to the other side of town is his often and too much of a combative attitude.
Yes, the Yankees could not do anything against Astros’ left hander Dallas Keuchel. He has a 22.0 inning scoreless streak against New York, 2.1 with a 1.13 ERA, and Keuchel became the first 15-game winner in the American League with his 8.0 innings of six hit ball which also gained him more momentum for Al Cy Young Award consideration.
And the Yankees could not get their bats going again, attributed also to a dominant pitcher. The issue of the Yankees once again not scoring runs and getting on base should be more significant for manager Joe Girardi. And there should be this late August concern about right hander Ivan Nova, who gave up five first inning runs and allowed a season high seven runs.
But Gomez and that combative attitude got to Girardi and the Yankees. And on the other side of town the Mets may be relieved they don’t have to deal with a situation that Girardi and his team had to deal with when it came to Gomez.
With the Yankees trailing 9-0 in the sixth inning, and with Gomez at bat, he flied to center off a pitch from Chris Capuano and flipped his bat to the Houston dugout. Gomez said something and the Yankees took exception as the shouting went back and forth.
“When he came back he started yelling at me,” Girardi said. “I wasn’t the guy who said anything. He is a kid who plays hard. But there have been a number of clubs who have taken exception to some of the things he does on the field. He just got a little heated.”
And it went on. As Girardi said, “I just told him, ‘Play the game the right way.’ I know you missed a pitch and you are frustrated by it. I just think it is a little too much.”
Gomez, with that combative attitude would shout back three times, “Shut up” to Girardi and the Yankees bench. And of course that’s when the benches and bullpens emptied with no punches thrown because of the quick actions of the umpires.
But it was another Carlos Gomez incident that occurred on another bad night for the Yankees in the Bronx. And Gomez would later hit his second home run as an Astro, a three run homer to the Yankees bullpen in a six run seventh inning off Capuano, redemption, but not for the Yankees who saw Houston record eight extra base hits and three home runs.
The question is, has Gomez become a team player or one who can’t control this competitive and combative attitude on the field? The Yankees took exception to that fire as they got blown out, and those across town with the Mets may be fortunate they did not have to deal with a player who can spark controversy at any moment.
To the contrary, Houston manager A, J, Hinch was protecting his player. He said, “Carlos is just trying to compete. He’s an emotional player. Obvious they took exception to a few of the actions. It comes from a good place Carlos is just trying to compete. Obviously it is what is is and calmer heads prevailed. It’s a tough feeling on the other side when you have a game like that and it is starting to unravel. He’s an explosive player and can be an impact player If we get a confident version and tonight we saw the emotion,”
Said Gomez, “I did not understand very well what people were yelling at me. I just asked, ‘Why are you yelling at me?’ And then someone came out of the dugout and started screaming, and I said. “Shut up. If you want to tell me something come here and say what you have to say.”
Of course it did not have to come down to the shouting. or the benches and pens coming on the field. Girardi said it is a game of emotions. and there were many times during the course of his playing career where things were said and he showed restraint.
However, Gomez does it his own way no matter how good a commodity he is for the Astros, or for that matter any team. Except the Mets were fortunate to renege on a Gomez deal in their quest to overtake the Nationals, because the last thing they needed was a combative player who would disrupt the good ship at Citi Field.
As for the Yankees, the good thing about baseball is Wednesday and another game with the Astros they need to win.
Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Twitter@Ring786 Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
#Yankees #Astros #CarlosGomez
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Bronx Sports: NYC FC Falls to LA
Bronx Sports: NYC FC Falls to LA: CARSON, Calif. | New York City FC lost 5-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in front of 27,000 on Sunday afternoon at the StubHub Center. ...
NYC FC Falls to LA
CARSON, Calif. | New York City FC lost 5-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in front of 27,000 on Sunday afternoon at the StubHub Center.
Robbie Keane scored twice while Gyasi Zardes, Giovani dos Santos and Sebastian Lletget all found the back of the net for the defending MLS Cup Champions.
David Villa scored his 15th goal of his debut campaign in the league with a penalty kick in the 80th minute to avoid the shutout.
New York City FC falls to 7-12-7 (28 points), while Los Angeles (13-7-7) move back atop the Western Conference with 46 points.
New York City FC started out the match the aggressor, dominating possession and opportunities in the match’s first 20 minutes. Villa had two of the best chances during that span with a pair of quick shots in the eighth and 14th minutes, but the first attempt was deflected for a corner kick and the second was parried away by goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.
The Galaxy, who have suffered just one loss in their last 30 regular-season MLS matches at home, grabbed hold of the momentum to end the first stanza. Their efforts turned into results as Zardes found the back of the net to put the home side up 1-0 in the 36th minute.
Juninho quickly took a free kick in New York City FC’s half following a foul on Villa. His pass ahead found Keane in space before the Los Angeles captain crossed a teasing ball into the box that Zardes headed home for a one-goal advantage.
The score remained 1-0 at halftime.
The Galaxy added to their lead early in the second half with a pair of goals in similar fashion. In the 54th minute, dos Santos had the ball on the right side and fed it ahead to Keane between a pair of defenders. Keane chipped an on-rushing Josh Saunders to make it 2-0.
The duo switched roles in the 67th minute with Keane turning provider to dos Santos, who chipped Saunders to make it 3-0.
Los Angeles didn’t let up, finding the back of the net again just three minutes later. Keane had the ball on the right side and slid it across the 18-yard box to Steven Gerrard. The former Liverpool midfielder took a shot, but it was redirected by Lletget and past Saunders for a 4-0 lead.
New York City FC forward Patrick Mullins was taken down in the penalty box in the 79th minute by Galaxy defender Dan Gargan as the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Villa stepped up and fired the ball into the lower right corner to make it 4-1.
It was Villa’s team-leading 15th goal of the season and his fifth PK goal.
Los Angeles quickly struck again – scoring just one minute later. Lletget controlled Ricketts’ goal kick on the left side and back heeled the ball to an overlapping Robbie Rogers. The defender crossed the ball into the center of the box that Keane tapped home to cap the scoring.
New York City FC return to action on Sunday, August 29 against Columbus Crew SC. Kickoff is 4 p.m. ET from Yankee Stadium (YES Network, WFAN, WADO).
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH JASON KREIS
On today's game:
“I think we ran up against the best team in the league and they punished our mistakes pretty severely. We started out the game, I thought, really really well but the first sign of a bad mistake in the back, a giveaway in the back, led to a clear chances for the Galaxy and the momentum completely shifted and I don't think we ever gained it back. We still have a lot to learn about how to be mentally strong and how to get the momentum back in games because I think it is happening to us quite often where we have spells where we are good and them something happens in the game and everything completely shifts and we have a hard time getting that back.”
On not having Frank Lampard available:
“I think a player like Frank [Lampard] in the midfield for us would certainly make a difference. He's a veteran player with a ton of experience that can communicate and can lead the guys around him. He might be the guy that we need to stem the tide when things are going a little but south for us. Unfortunately he wasn't quite fit enough to really contribute for us today. We will have an entire week to try to get him involved in full trainings and fit for next weekend.”
On what the team needs to defensively:
“I think its continued work with organization with our back four and the players in front of them. I think today we got caught on counter attacks a lot against a team I said before they are the best in the league at that right now and you see that with a lot of the score lines that they have. They are scoring a ton of goals, they are a defensively sound team that hits you in transition very well.”
NEW YORK CITY FC FORWARD DAVID VILLA
[Translated from Spanish]
On today's game:
“We got outplayed by a better team. After the first 20 minutes they started to get into the game. They played better, they defended better and they attacked better and the score reflects that.”
On the team's performance:
“We trained hard for this game. In the first 20 we played the way we prepared for this game. We were playing well and almost scored a goal but them we stopped doing what we were doing. When you play against a great team, let's acknowledge that they are a great team, they are a better team than us, they are the defending champions. When you play against a team better than you the only thing you can do is stay 100 percent focused and after the 20th minute we didn't do that.”
Bronx Sports: #Yankees Honor Andy Pettitte
Bronx Sports: #Yankees Honor Andy Pettitte: Yankees Honor Andy Pettitte By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- One of the members of the new legendary group , th...
#Yankees Honor Andy Pettitte
Yankees Honor Andy Pettitte
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- One of the members of the new legendary group, the Core Four, was honored by the franchise on Sunday. Following his former teammate, Jorge Posada who was saluted on Saturday, Andy Pettitte received a similar honor on Sunday afternoon. The stars of the playoff and World Series winning teams in the 1990’s and early 2000’s have been in the spotlight during the past two seasons.
Although the ceremony was very similar to the one held one afternoon earlier, the thrill for the fans of the team during that period was not lessened. Pettitte was joined by many members of his family to share the glory and joy he received. Present on the field with him were his wife, his four children, his mother and father, his in-laws, and his daughter-in-law.
Many of the former Yankees greats who attended the Posada salute on the previous day were again present to help honor their teammate. In attendance were teammates Scott Brosius, David Cone, Hideki Matsui, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, Bernie Williams and Core Four members Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.
The fourth member of the special group of Yankees, Mariano Rivera, was on-the-field to present Pettittewith a jeweled base that was autographed by all of the day’s special guests. Rivera and Pettitte teamed for many Yankees wins as Rivera saved 72 of the right-hander’s starts.
Other guests saluting Pettitte were his manager Joe Torre, the general manager who signed him to a contract, Gene Michael, the team’s trainer Gene Monahan, and Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.
An interesting video of the hurler’s career that was shown on the screen in center field began the ceremony. A nice touch was having Pettitte introduced by the voice of the late public address legend Bob Sheppard while the pitcher was standing on the bullpen mound.
After the Pettitte family departed Monument Park and circled the field by automobile to join the other guests in the infield, gifts were presented. A replica of the Monument Park Plaque was presented by Pettitte’sformer catcher and manager Joe Girardi, a replica of his retired jersey #46 was given by Hal and Christina Steinbrenner and Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal presented Pettitte a career milestone ring.
Pettitte, a soft spoken and very religious individual, was inclusive in his utterance of gratitude for those who aided him in his lengthy major league career; he mentioned family, friends, teammates, trainers, strength staff, managers, coaches, the scout who signed him, Joe Robinson, those who arranged the ceremony, Debbie Tymon and Rob Bernstein and closed by thanking the “best fans in the world.”
Pettitte spoke of the incredulity he felt when he began with the Yankees in the majors in 1995, “A dream of mine as a boy had come true.” He said he felt something during Sunday’s ceremony that he could not have imagined when he was a rookie 20 years ago. He also mentioned the strangeness of a boy born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and living with his family in Deer Park, Texas being able to find “ a second home in New York.”
The weekend ceremonies were connected in Pettitte’s mind as he said, “I’m just so proud I could share this weekend with Posada.”
Posada caught 100 of Pettitte’s 219 Yankee wins. They were a battery again as Pettitte threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Posada.
#AndyPettitte #Yankees #MonumentPark
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Bronx Sports: #Yankee Luis Severino Earns First Major League Win...
Bronx Sports: #Yankee Luis Severino Earns First Major League Win...: #Yankee Luis Severino Earns First Major League Win By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Luis Severino earned his first major leagu...
#Yankee Luis Severino Earns First Major League Win
#Yankee Luis Severino Earns First Major League Win
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Luis Severino earned his first major league victory in his fourth start on Saturday afternoon following the tribute to Jorge Posada. The exciting victory for the young hurler kept the Yanks in first place in the American League East. Severino was the 14th player to make his major league debut for the Yankees this season, but the first as a starting pitcher. On August 5, at the age of 21 years and 166 days, the rookie was the youngest pitcher to start a game in MLB in 2015.
The prime reason for his inability to win any of his three previous starts this year was his lack of run support by his teammates. The Yanks only scored twice in his first three outings combined while on Saturday, they scored seven runs.
Severino yielded a home run to the second batter in the contest, Indians shortstop Francisco Linder. The homer was the only extra-base hit given up by the Dominican native. He was only touched for two singles throughout his six innings on the mound, one by Linder in the second and the other by Lonnie Chisenhall in the fourth.
What was different for Severino was his lack of normal control. He walked four batters in six innings on Saturday, but in his previous three starts only walk four in 17 innings. In 99.1 innings in the minors this season, only 27 batters drew walks.
Yankee skipper Joe Girardi assessed the performance of the newcomer, “I thought he pitched a good game without his best stuff.” The manager believed his ability to overcome adversity is a very good sign for the youngster’s future in the majors, “The more tough situations you get through, the more confidence you should get. He had composure and he didn’t get fazed in his first big league camp in the spring. Everything we’ve seen from him we like. I think he’ll be around a long time.”
The rookie expressed confidence of his ability and responsibility without showing any arrogance, “Sometimes you just have to go out there and do the best you can [even without your best stuff]. I know I have a good team behind me. For the first time, I feel like I belong here.”
After the large group of mainstream media left his cubicle, several reporters spoke to him in Spanish. He visibly perked up when reminded of a luncheon he was to be honored at in Manhattan on Monday afternoon. He told them some of his family members were here to support his early efforts in the majors. He exhibited a warm personality and good humor when made to feel comfortable.
He is currently the only Yankee starting pitcher to have an ERA under 3.00. His 2.74 should keep in the rotation regularly as the team vies for a spot in the playoffs.
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Luis Severino earned his first major league victory in his fourth start on Saturday afternoon following the tribute to Jorge Posada. The exciting victory for the young hurler kept the Yanks in first place in the American League East. Severino was the 14th player to make his major league debut for the Yankees this season, but the first as a starting pitcher. On August 5, at the age of 21 years and 166 days, the rookie was the youngest pitcher to start a game in MLB in 2015.
The prime reason for his inability to win any of his three previous starts this year was his lack of run support by his teammates. The Yanks only scored twice in his first three outings combined while on Saturday, they scored seven runs.
Severino yielded a home run to the second batter in the contest, Indians shortstop Francisco Linder. The homer was the only extra-base hit given up by the Dominican native. He was only touched for two singles throughout his six innings on the mound, one by Linder in the second and the other by Lonnie Chisenhall in the fourth.
What was different for Severino was his lack of normal control. He walked four batters in six innings on Saturday, but in his previous three starts only walk four in 17 innings. In 99.1 innings in the minors this season, only 27 batters drew walks.
Yankee skipper Joe Girardi assessed the performance of the newcomer, “I thought he pitched a good game without his best stuff.” The manager believed his ability to overcome adversity is a very good sign for the youngster’s future in the majors, “The more tough situations you get through, the more confidence you should get. He had composure and he didn’t get fazed in his first big league camp in the spring. Everything we’ve seen from him we like. I think he’ll be around a long time.”
The rookie expressed confidence of his ability and responsibility without showing any arrogance, “Sometimes you just have to go out there and do the best you can [even without your best stuff]. I know I have a good team behind me. For the first time, I feel like I belong here.”
After the large group of mainstream media left his cubicle, several reporters spoke to him in Spanish. He visibly perked up when reminded of a luncheon he was to be honored at in Manhattan on Monday afternoon. He told them some of his family members were here to support his early efforts in the majors. He exhibited a warm personality and good humor when made to feel comfortable.
He is currently the only Yankee starting pitcher to have an ERA under 3.00. His 2.74 should keep in the rotation regularly as the team vies for a spot in the playoffs.
Bronx Sports: Yankees
Bronx Sports: Yankees: Jorge Posada Honored by Yankees By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- More than any franchise in professional sports, the New...
Yankees
Jorge Posada Honored by Yankees
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- More than any franchise in professional sports, the New York Yankees honors its heroes of the past and its greatest events of its lengthy and illustrious history. The fourth of five Yankees heroes, Jorge Posada, was saluted in the Bronx. Saturday began a very special weekend of recent Yankees memories with the tribute to Jorge Posada.
The popular catcher from the mid-1990’s through 2011 unveiled a copy of his plaque that will be displayed in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. His uniform #20 was retired in the same ceremony. Posada’s mother and father, his sister, his wife and son and daughter were present to share the happy day with the former Yankees catcher. In addition to the members of his immediate family, Posada was joined on the field with members of his Yankees family, general manager Gene Michael, trainer Gene Monahan, teammates Scott Brosius, David Cone, Hideki Matsui, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, Bernie Williams, manager Joe Torre, and
the other three members of the Core Four, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter. Each received the plaudits of the large crowd of 47,031. The largest cheers were given to Matsui, Rivera and of course, Jeter.
Posada also received gifts from the Yankees, a replica of his plaque by Joe Girardi and Diana Munson, a replica of his retired #20 by Hal and Christina Steinbrenner and a special ring by Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal.
Posada gave a short but emotional speech expressing his gratitude to the many who had given him support throughout his career, “Trying to put into words thoughts and feelings about today is definitely tough.” He said his years with the Yankees were “an honor and dream come true.”
On the following day, a plaque of Andy Pettitte will be unveiled before its placement in Monument Park and Pettitte’s #46 will be retired by the Yankees. Although both members of the Core Four will probably fall short of inclusion into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, they were of vital importance to the great success achieved by the Yankees during the past two decades.
Posada, a native of Santurce, Puerto Rico, celebrated his 44th birthday five days before his Yankee Stadium salute. Encouraged by his father and uncle, Posada was destined to be a star in baseball. After two years at Calhoun Community College in Alabama, Posada was drafted by the Yankees in 1991. Like his counterparts in the Core Four, Posada spent several years improving his craft in the minor league system of the Yanks.
His accomplishments as a Yankee rank him with the graets who preceded him at that position, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Bill Dickey and Thurman Munson.
#JorgePosada #Yankees #CoreFour
BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- More than any franchise in professional sports, the New York Yankees honors its heroes of the past and its greatest events of its lengthy and illustrious history. The fourth of five Yankees heroes, Jorge Posada, was saluted in the Bronx. Saturday began a very special weekend of recent Yankees memories with the tribute to Jorge Posada.
The popular catcher from the mid-1990’s through 2011 unveiled a copy of his plaque that will be displayed in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. His uniform #20 was retired in the same ceremony. Posada’s mother and father, his sister, his wife and son and daughter were present to share the happy day with the former Yankees catcher. In addition to the members of his immediate family, Posada was joined on the field with members of his Yankees family, general manager Gene Michael, trainer Gene Monahan, teammates Scott Brosius, David Cone, Hideki Matsui, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, Bernie Williams, manager Joe Torre, and
Bronx Sports: Indians get to Tanaka
Bronx Sports: Indians get to Tanaka: Again the Indians got to the Yankees By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- It is baseball, and once again in the Bronx Fri...
Indians get to Tanaka
Again the Indians got to the Yankees
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- It is baseball, and once again in the Bronx Friday night the Cleveland Indians were the team that continued to give the New York Yankees problems. And for the fourth time in five games the Indians did not look like one of the worse teams in baseball.
Carlos Carrasco got his 12th win on the mound and recorded his third double digit strikeout game of the season. He was another righthander in consecutive games that the Yankees could not contend with, and his 11 strikeouts had the Yankees wondering what will await them Saturday afternoon when they oppose another righty, 11-6 Danny Salazar.
“They’ve given us trouble,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi after a 7-3 loss. “I’ve said it always, the one thing about baseball, it doesn’t make sense.” And when the Yankees have trouble scoring runs, as they did again against Carrasco, the game will never make sense to Girardi and the Yankees.
And to be fair enough, as any astute observer of the game will say, good pitching will stop good hitting. The Yankees the past two games against Indians pitching have scored five runs, and once again that is a concern as the dog days of August continue.
But the Yankees manager is not in a panic mode. Yes. Girardi would like to see his team get the bats going again after Carrasco and two out of the Indians pen combined to strike out 13 Yankees. And it was last August 9th against Cleveland when the Yankees struck out 15 times against Indians pitching.
So there is a definite tend these last two years in that the Cleveland Indians, a team dead last in the AL central, play like a first place team against a potent but inconsistent lineup of New York Yankees. This time it was Carrasco, who was the better pitcher against the Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka who gave up one run and five hits in 6-⅔ innings.
“They’ve pitched extremely well against us and we haven’t scored a lot of runs,” Girardi said. Saturday afternoon when the Yankees honor one their “Core Four”, Jorge Posada, it will be Salazar the 25-year old right hander on the mound for Cleveland. Last week he got a win over New York at home, and allowed one run in 7.1 innings on four hits.
The task will not be easy for Girardi’s team, and it also has a lot to do with an Indians’ core of good starters who have become a bright part of their dismal season. But they are building a solid foundation and for now wins over the Yankees have become a part of that building process.
“I don’t really worry about where the team is in the standings,” the Yankees Brett Gardner said when asked about the Indians’ dominance and how they have not played in the Bronx as a last place team.
He added, “Last place, first place, a loss is a loss and a win is a win. They’re obviously not in our division but every game counts just the same and we just got beat.”
However, Carrasco had good command with his fastball and that caused Gardner to be two of his strikeout victims. The splitter and changeup also had the Yankees taking bad swings and any contact made all went for outs. Still the Yankees know that they have two more games remaining with these Indians Saturday and Sunday, and they need to figure out a way to get out of this latest slide of their inability to score runs.
Carrasco through the first three innings allowed one hit and struck out six. Once again the Yankees, who lead baseball by a wide margin in scoring first inning runs, had difficulty with a right handed weapon that the Indians seem to have when facing the Yankees.
And the only extra base hit for the Yankees came in the fourth inning on a Carlos Beltran double. Carrasco who struggled last year has quickly become a good arsenal for manager Terry Francona and the Indians.
“I had confidence and just found it today,” said Carrasco about his seven innings of good pitching against a Yankees offense that seemed to be getting out of their hitting tailspin in the past week. “Right now everything is down and not up.”
“Everyone in the starting rotation is doing hard work,” he said about the Indians staff limiting the Yankees to five runs in the first two games. “We all pay attention to what the other guys is doing and that’s competition which is all good.”
The Yankees, though, have not found a way to figure out how to get by that competition against the Indians. They will try and find the solution by Sunday because the first place west leading Houston Astros come to the Bronx for three games starting Monday night.
If not, that half game first place lead over Toronto will not look that way in the standings.
Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Twitter@Ring786 Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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