What does it mean to wear a number in the 50s or 60's? Most of the time it means you are fighting for a job on the Yankees but in Japan it is a different story. It is an honor for a starting pitcher in Japan to have a number in the teens with 18 being most coveted.
In Boo Boo's (Hideki Irabu) first season with us he wore 35 and that did play head games with him. The next season he wore 14 which was more to his honor.So where am I going with this you may ask?
That brings me to Kei Igawa, he was issued number 29 upon arrival. As a matter of fact you can buy his 29 Jersey already. So you must be thinking, ahhh he must have had a number in the teens in Japan. Heck Dmat wore 18. Wrong again, he wore the same number 29 in Japan.
Was he always a starter in his home country? Or was he a swing man? I don't know alot about him. (Where is Zbi when I need him?) So as Jerry Seinfeld would say "What's Up With That?" Or better yet "How Good Is He?"
Friday, February 23, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
BOOMER IN ISRAEL
Former Yankees Ken Holtzman and Ron Blomberg along with ex Met Art Shamsky will manage three of the teams that will compete in the inaugural season of the six-team Israel Baseball League. The announcement of the three managers was made by the league commissioner Daniel M. Kurtzer, the former U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
Boss George's Son-In Law, Stephen Swindal, who is also the Yankees' general partner, was arrested for DUI before dawn yesterday after St Petersburg Police spotted him speeding and weaving along a road not far from the Tampa Complex. Swindal was driving 61 mph in a 35 mph zone in his Mercedes-Benz black two-seater sports car, about 20 miles from the Yankees' Legends Field in Tampa, police said. Daddy must be fuming.
Maybe 27 is in the cards as heartship again has hit the Yankee family. Frank Torre, a star in his own right and elder brother of the Yankees' skipper Joe Torre needs a kidney transplant. Frank received a heart transplant between Games 5 and 6 of the Fall Classic, making a speedy recovery that allowed him to watch Joe hoist the World Series trophy for the first time in his lengthy career.
Meanwhile in Tampa Joe Torre said yesterday that he had spoken with Bernie Williams on Wednesday, making a push for the veteran outfielder to come to camp as a non-roster player. The manager made no promises to Williams, who has played his entire 16-year career with the Yankees, and the two plan to speak again Friday or Saturday.
The Yankees will wear a black armband on both their home and road jerseys this season to honor the memory of Cory Lidle, who died last Oct. 11 in a plane crash on the upper East Side.
The team also has not issued jersey number No. 30, which Lidle wore during his two-month stint with the Yankees last season. But don't look for it hanging in Monument Park any time soon, at least not for Cory.
Mike Mussina is guilty of only one thing, going to the press sinstead of confronting Carl Pavano directly. Moose however did the right thing by apologizing for having comments relayed to Pavano through the press, and Pavano said he understood his teammates' frustration stemming from the right-hander's continued injury woes. So all is happy on the Yankee staff (so far) this Spring.
Boss George's Son-In Law, Stephen Swindal, who is also the Yankees' general partner, was arrested for DUI before dawn yesterday after St Petersburg Police spotted him speeding and weaving along a road not far from the Tampa Complex. Swindal was driving 61 mph in a 35 mph zone in his Mercedes-Benz black two-seater sports car, about 20 miles from the Yankees' Legends Field in Tampa, police said. Daddy must be fuming.
Maybe 27 is in the cards as heartship again has hit the Yankee family. Frank Torre, a star in his own right and elder brother of the Yankees' skipper Joe Torre needs a kidney transplant. Frank received a heart transplant between Games 5 and 6 of the Fall Classic, making a speedy recovery that allowed him to watch Joe hoist the World Series trophy for the first time in his lengthy career.
Meanwhile in Tampa Joe Torre said yesterday that he had spoken with Bernie Williams on Wednesday, making a push for the veteran outfielder to come to camp as a non-roster player. The manager made no promises to Williams, who has played his entire 16-year career with the Yankees, and the two plan to speak again Friday or Saturday.
The Yankees will wear a black armband on both their home and road jerseys this season to honor the memory of Cory Lidle, who died last Oct. 11 in a plane crash on the upper East Side.
The team also has not issued jersey number No. 30, which Lidle wore during his two-month stint with the Yankees last season. But don't look for it hanging in Monument Park any time soon, at least not for Cory.
Mike Mussina is guilty of only one thing, going to the press sinstead of confronting Carl Pavano directly. Moose however did the right thing by apologizing for having comments relayed to Pavano through the press, and Pavano said he understood his teammates' frustration stemming from the right-hander's continued injury woes. So all is happy on the Yankee staff (so far) this Spring.
Friday, February 02, 2007
BOMBER BRIEFS
Roger Clemens was in town for some hoaky St John's University event. So naturally the press made a whole big thing about it hinting he is coming back to the Yankees. Believe me, Roger won't be back in Pinstripes unless his son comes too.
Bernie Williams was offered an invite to Spring Training. Sources close to BTB say Bernie will accept it and come to camp. Many of the press mongrels were hinting that it is an insult to Bernie but Bernie is the class guy he is won't say that even if he feels that way down deep. Scott Boras, Bernie's agent, told the AP that he's waiting to hear from his client before pursuing any other options.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced at City Hall this week that the All Star Game is coming back to the Bronx in 2008. Now this time it is for real.
Any of you have a tough time buying Yankee tickets this week? Well you are not alone, the Bombers already sold over 3 Million tickets. "Nobody goes there anymore it's too crowded."
And lastly Staten Island Chuck (no truth to the rumor that he is the former Yankee 2B/LF) did not see his shadow this today, so we are ready for an early spring. The bad news is Barry Bonds did see his.
Bernie Williams was offered an invite to Spring Training. Sources close to BTB say Bernie will accept it and come to camp. Many of the press mongrels were hinting that it is an insult to Bernie but Bernie is the class guy he is won't say that even if he feels that way down deep. Scott Boras, Bernie's agent, told the AP that he's waiting to hear from his client before pursuing any other options.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced at City Hall this week that the All Star Game is coming back to the Bronx in 2008. Now this time it is for real.
Any of you have a tough time buying Yankee tickets this week? Well you are not alone, the Bombers already sold over 3 Million tickets. "Nobody goes there anymore it's too crowded."
And lastly Staten Island Chuck (no truth to the rumor that he is the former Yankee 2B/LF) did not see his shadow this today, so we are ready for an early spring. The bad news is Barry Bonds did see his.
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