Yankees Sock it to Boston

Yankees Sock it to Boston

Yanks Put to Rest Some Questions with Dominance of Red Sox, Ejection of Manager John Farrell

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 14- The rivalry changed a bit when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox met for the first time in the Bronx the past three days. The Yankees, a team with questions will take what they accomplished after their 3-2 win Sunday night taking three of four games from their rivals.

This early in the season, and with questions about a Yankees bullpen that is being tested, they conquered. Matt Thornton, David Phelps and Shawn Kelley closed the door with David Robertson on the disabled list. It was intense baseball in the Bronx and from the looks of these first four of 19-games that will be played between these division rivals, there will be more intensity.

And count on a little of everything, including spectacular defense that came from the Yankees outfield. With a decimated infield, plagued by injuries, Carlos Beltran was shifted from right-field to first base in the top of the fifth because of an injury to Francisco Cervelli.

Cervelli, will likely go on the disabled list. Sunday night, Beltran went 3-for-4 including a home run, single and a double He has been everything the Yankees wanted in their lineup, perhaps something they did not have last year when the Red Sox dominated New York.

"I didn't have a whole lot of choices tonight," said manager Joe Girardi about putting Beltran in at first for the injured Cervelli. "Just tells you the type of player he is. Willing to do anything you ask him to do.”

He added, “Very, very unselfish."

Beltran is that type of player. He was one of the four players the Yankees purchased for over $450 million to get them back to October. But, with the Yankees decimated with injuries in the infield, Beltran was pressed into service and was put in the infield for the first time in his career.

It was another dimension to this rivalry, a new one that has developed. The Red Sox don’t resemble the team that went on to win a World Series last October. And the Yankees, without Derek Jeter this night ,were pressed to do something and Beltran did not say no.

"Thank God nobody hit the baseball to me," said Beltran. He made three putouts and without Mark Teixeira, on the disabled list with a right hamstring pull, Girardi may not hesitate to put Beltran at first again.

“We have to do what it takes," Beltran said. I hope I don't have to do it again." The Yankees are doing what they have to do, 13-games into a young season. He has homered in consecutive games since May 28-29 of last season against Kansas City when he was with the Cardinals.

The Yankees scored their third run in the fourth inning. The new instant replay rule went to their benefit and caused the ejection of Boston Manager John Farrell. Cervelli was ruled safe on a bang-bang play at first. Girardi challenged.

Farrell contested the change of a call that enabled the Yankees to get what was a decisive run in what could have been an inning ending double-play. Under the new rule a play overturned is not supposed to be argued by a manager, hence the ejection. More, so the Yankees got the benefit and the rivalry got more intense.

So much of what transpired renewed a rivalry that seemed to disappear last season. Ichiro Suzuki, replacing Beltran in right, crashed into the outfield wall and made a spectacular catch that took an extra base hit away from David Ortiz in the eighth inning.

And by the eighth inning, with Mike Napoli on second, after a double to left that the Yankees’ Brett Gardner did his best to get, the Yankee Stadium crowd could be heard again, as it was when this rivalry was so intense.

Phelps, part of the mix and match late combination out of the Yankees pen walked Daniel Nava on a pitch that was low. A.J. Pierzynski got hit by a pitch that loaded the bases. Mike Carp off the bench after going behind 2-0 on the count went after a breaking ball and swung at strike three.

Then Kelley, in a role as one of the closers, sent the Red Sox packing in the ninth. It is only April, but these games are so important in a division that will be contested also with Tampa Bay.

“You know the division and wild card come down to one run,” said Girardi who always said these games are important now. However, if the Yankees want to be there in late September, they need to stay healthy. And they need good pitching as Ivan Nova got his second win in 7.1 innings. He struck out four on eight-hits and one of the Boston runs off Napoli’s third home run in the sixth.

“I thought he had a better command of his curveball tonight and that was a difference,” commented Girardi. In his last outing, Nova gave up seven runs and 10-hits in 3-2/3 innings to Baltimore.

The type of game on Sunday night that revived a rivalry in the Bronx and the Yankees, with an off Monday have a day to recuperate before welcoming the Chicago Cubs for a two-game interleague series.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  facebook.com/Rich Mancuso www.newyorksportsexaminer.com

Is Carlos Beltran a right fit for the Yankees?

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 21- Carlos Beltran was all smiles in the Bronx when he put on the Yankees pinstripes for the first time. The last time he wore a New York uniform, cross-town as a Met, it wasn’t smiles after taking an Adam Wainwright curveball at Shea Stadium in October of 2006 that ended the Mets season in the NLCS to the Cardinals.

The Mets may have never recovered from that pitch and that final at bat from Beltran. And Beltran never recovered as a Met, their fans still have not forgiven him for leaving them one game shy of advancing to the World Series. There would be more tumultuous moments with Mets management before being traded to the Giants for rookie pitcher Zach Wheeler.

There was Beltran at Yankee Stadium. He was not shy about talking of those years with the Mets. He felt the seven-year, $119 million contract resulted in good times, but the end became a disrespectful memory. In essence, the Yankees then were his first choice as a free agent after a memorable 2005 post season with the Houston Astros.

Beltran was always a Yankee fan. The Yankees at the time felt he was not their perfect fit. He is now, but is he? Beltran downplayed questions about two suspect knees, and there are questions of whether he will be inserted more as the DH in the lineup of manager Joe Girardi, or a part time position player in a crowded outfield.

Girardi is happy with his new addition that goes along with the signees the past two weeks of catcher Brian McCann and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. And, Beltran now gets to play in the Bronx where there is a predominant Latino community. Girardi and the hierarchy of the Yankees were not holding back.

Carlos Beltran will also play a major role in the community. He is also a family oriented individual, something that Girardi also referred to as a constant in the Yankees clubhouse.

And there should be no issues about Beltran not fitting in with the New York fan base or getting along with the media. He did that well during his tenure with the Mets.

“Carlos understands how New York works,” said Girardi. “It helps a lot.”

It also helps that the Yankees are making roster additions in the off-season. Girardi is not adjusting the lineup in mid-season, or as was the case this past year welcoming one new player after another because of the constant injuries that plagued the team.

“What we’ve added to our lineup is as much since I’ve been here,” said Girardi with his confident smile. The feeling is, the Yankees hierarchy is not done and pitching now will be a priority before spring training commences in about seven weeks.

“I can deal with 0-for-fours and three strikeouts,” said Beltran after his introductory press conference. “And talking to you guys I can deal with that. When someone is trying to hurt you in a personal way, trying to put things out there that are not me, we have trouble.”

Beltran was not referring to the disgruntled Mets fans, who felt in the end that he was not the perfect fit. It was an attack at Mets management for berating his ability and possibly not living up to expectations. In six seasons with the Mets he hit 149 home runs and drove in 559 runs.

“You cannot believe the organization that signed you for seven years is trying to put you down,” he said. “In that aspect, I felt hurt. “I’m a player but they don’t only hurt me, they hurt my family, they hurt people around me. It wasn’t right put it that way.”

And if that is indeed true, Beltran had every right to express his feelings and the Mets brass could not be reached for comment, but they by now have heard the comments and will be asked sooner or later. The Yankees stressed that family issue with Beltran on board, and his wife and two children were very visible on his debut in the Bronx.

The Yankees scored a trifecta the past three weeks. It was Beltran on Friday, Ellsbury and McCann the prior two weeks. Beltran is the latest addition and he said, “When you don’t win, everything is a failure.”

The Yankees believe they have another piece to the puzzle that will get them back to the post season.  The question is, will Beltran, who almost became a Yankee in 2005, help return them to the post season?

Right now he appears to be a perfect fit.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  www.newyorksportsexaminer.com

Carlos Beltran Officially Introduced by New York Yankees

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 21- For the third time in the past three weeks, the New York Yankees officially introduced one of their free agent signees. These brief meetings with the press and media are wise ways for an organization to publicize its franchise in a positive manner and demonstrate to its fan base its efforts to improve the performance of the team in the coming season.

Catcher Brian McCann, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and on Friday, Carlos Beltran were the subjects of these public events. The player least needing an introduction to New York fans is Beltran.

The 36 year-old outfielder has been in the majors since 1998 and was a star on the New York Mets from 2005-2011. During that time, he has compiled very creditable on the field statistics and conducted himself humbly and gentlemanly off the field.  

After playing 14 games for the Kansas City Royals in 1998, Beltran earned the American League Rookie-of-the Year Award in 1999. After a trade to Houston during the 2004 season, Beltran became a free agent and was hopeful of signing with the Yankees in 2005.

Beltran recalled this experience, “I grew up being a Yankee fan, a Bernie Williams fan. I used to look up to this organization. They always did what it takes to put good teams out there and win championships. Eight-nine years ago, they [Yankees] couldn’t commit to the years I wanted. They were having problems with the salary cap. They got Randy Johnson and I signed with the Mets.”

Although he still retains the hurtful memories of having been unfairly spoken of negatively by Mets brass, Beltran put the entire Mets experience in a positive light, “I have good memories of Queens. As a person, I met so many good people. In my career, my best numbers were with the Mets.”

Beltran responded with total honesty when asked how playing for the Yanks will be different than playing for the Mets, “I don’t know. I have to experience it.”

New York Yankees President Randy Levine explained one of the reasons the Yankees desired to sign Beltran, “We know he can play in New York. A lot of great players can’t.” Beltran later explained the meaning of Levine’s words from his own playing experience, “Playing here [New York] is different than playing anywhere else. The attention here is more; that’s pressure.”

Despite the pressure, he talked of his happiness of being in New York, a feeling that was not always realized by the public, “People misunderstood that I didn’t like New York. I really did enjoy it. My wife loves it here.”

As a Latino born in Puerto Rico, the veteran major leaguer expressed happiness of being in the Bronx, “I’m proud that on this side of town we have a lot of Puerto Ricans. I have a double responsibility, representing the Yankees and representing my country. We’re going to have some fun.”

The socially conscious individual also spoke of his responsibility of giving back to the community, “My opportunity as a player is to give back. We are going to do something positive.”

As a veteran player who at the end of his current three year contact will have played in the majors for 18 seasons, Beltran is thinking of the future. He said although he never gave thought to the Hall of Fame, people have told him it could be in his future. Because of this possibility, he felt a strong preference for a three year rather than two year contract, “The third year, to me, is important. It allows me to play longer and get better numbers.”

The statistics and honors earned by Beltran are already quite impressive. The eight time All-Star, three time Gold Glove winner and recipient of the Silver Slugger twice is worthy of being considered. His .333 batting average in 51 post-season games also adds to his high reputation.

He responded to a query of when he will retire, “It depends on how I feel. Right now, I consider it my last contract.”

Perhaps, the comment by Levine of why this contract between Beltran and the Yankees was signed was most appropriate, “The stars were aligned.”