FIVE-OH BY FIVE

It took 5 pitchers but the Bombers extended their winning streak to 2 as the Yankees blanked the Phillies 5-0 in the City of Brotherly Love.

Octavio Dotel will travel to Alabama on Thursday to have his surgically repaired right elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews. Dotel has not pitched since Friday, when he went 1 1/3 innings for Triple-A Columbus in his latest minor league rehab game. He felt pain behind his elbow the next morning and has been shut down since. The Yankees diagnosed the problem as triceps tendinitis, a common post-operative occurrence.

MOOSE NOT SO LOOSE

Hopefully last night was the start of a new streak. The streak of wins that is, that will lead us to #27. Melky Cabrera was rested to try to get his head straightened out. The Yanks beat the Phillies 9-7.

Four Staten Island pitchers combined for an 18-0 shutout as the NYPL Champion Yankees beat the Brooklyn Cyclones in their 2006 Opener in Brooklyn. They meet again tonight at their home opener in St George. Rumor has it there will be an surprise announcement made at the game check out Baby-Bombers.com for complete coverage.

BIG UNIT DISMAL AGAIN

Randy Johnson looked bad again Friday night, this time he didn't have the Channel 9 curse on him. Aaron Small looked good in relief. GOOD NEWS Alex Rodriguez looked like he found his stroke again. Derek Jeter started as DH.

It was a differewnt team that returned after the rain delay. Alas we still came up short by a run in the hole the Bug Unit dug for us. At least nobody was added to the overcrowded DL.

Herb Pennock: The Good and the Ugly

By Special Guest Blogger Harvey Frommer

All the medical news these days coming out of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania aboutBarbaro gives that locale the most extensive news exposure since the days of Herbert Pennock, the man they called "The Knight of Kennett Square." One of the top hurlers of his time, Pennock went directly from high school to amajor league debut May 14, 1912 with the old Philadelphia Athletics. His final game was August 27, 1934.

Classy, he was a horticulturist, a breeder of red silver foxes at his countryhome near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Pennock was known for a flowingpitching motion punctuated by fidgety movements on the mound. He did not over-power batters. He let them hit the ball, giving up more than a hit an inningin his career. But he still was a big winner with this approach, notching 35 lifetime shutouts. Legendary sports writer Grantland Rice said Pennock pitched each game "with the ease and coolness of a practice session. "The loose southpaw was just another one of the talented players the Yankees stripped away from the Boston Red Sox.

He came to the Yanks in 1923 and led theleague in winning percentage (.760), the first of four over .700 seasons. Hefollowed with a 21-9 record in 1924, and was 59-25 in 1926-28. Yankee manager Miller Huggins called Herb Pennock the greatest lefthander inbaseball history, marveling at the "Squire's" World Series record: 5-0, 1.95lifetime ERA. In 11 Yankee seasons, Pennock was 162-90 for a .643 winningpercentage.In December of 1943 Bob Carpenter purchased the Philadelphia Phillies. Pennockhit it off with the new owner and was hired "for life" as General Manager.

Pennock did not hit it off with Branch Rickey in 1947, attempting to block Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color line. Pennock reportedly had a telephoneconversation with Rickey during which he said that the Phillies would not take the field if Jackie Robinson were in uniform for a series starting May 9. It was reported that Pennock told Rickey: that you "just can't bring the nigger here (to Philadelphia) with the rest of your team." The Dodgers came, and Jackie Robinson came, too. Racial hatred was on parade atthe ball park for four days. Robinson played on despite the horrid spewing ofracial epithets. It was so horrific that Dodger infielder Eddie Stanky, out of Alabama, challenged all those in the Philly dugout - this within earshot of Pennock and Carpenter. "The Knight of Kennett Square" had many marvelous and uplifting moments on the baseball field. His attitude towards Jackie Robison was not one of them.

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Harvey Frommer is now in his 32nd consecutive year of writing sports books. He is the author of 38 sports books, including the classics: "New York CityBaseball," "Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball," "Rickey and Robinson," "A YankeeCentury," and Red Sox Vs. Yankees: The Great Rivalry" (with Frederic J.Frommer). His newest efforts are OLD TIME BASEBALL and WHERE HAVE ALL THE REDSOX GONE? Frommer sports books are available direct from the author - discounted andautographed.He is now at work on the definitive book on the 1927 Yankees to be published in 2007.

TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE . . .

I hope the Yankees are doing the right thing not disabling Jorge Posada. A catcher of his status doesn't need a knee injury of any kind.

The last two season Jorge has impressed me with his defensive improvements. He has made his locker worthy of the Thurman Munson baseball card he has hanging in there. For years Jorge was calling great games while wielding a potent bat but when it came to blocking the plate he was second rate. In the last two seasons Posada's defense was born. An infielder by trade Jorge all of a sudden got the knack of defensive catching.

My whole problem now is that if the Yankees don't rest him and let it heal several things can happen.

1. It could throw off his timing at the plate.
2. It could hamper his running .
3. It may make Posada shy when it comes to player contact.

I say unless you are 100% sure he can play through this without making any sacrifices then do it. If not it is time to DL Jorge before we lose him physically and mentally for the season.

OUTFIELDER ANYONE?

With the potential season ending injury to Iron-San Hideki Matsui, {who would believe he would be our second Hideki?} the tabloids are projecting deals for every available and not so available outfield arm from here to Anaheim or should I say Los Angeles of Anaheim?

Peter Botte of the Daily Snooze has a his suggestion list after praising Brian Cashman for being patient (for what one day?). Michael Morrisey of the Post contemplates his suggestions as well. While the gang over at BTB have their mixed emotions for your participation.

Anyway they brought up Kevin Reese who had a great spring and a good AAA year thus far to help fill the void. Oh what the heck let's trade for them all.

NOT A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL

I know I have been complaining that we didn't have a 1-run victory yet but I didn't want one in a game we were leading 8-1. Aaron Small was brought in to hold the potent Ranger bats in check with a seven run lead in the 8th. After suffering his first regular season loss in his last outing Small looked to be well on his way to his second.

He left the game with bases loaded and two down in the eight. Mariano Rivera was summoned to get the 4 out save. The Sandman did it the hard way by giving up 2 hits and a hit batsman allowing the Texas team to within one. That's all she wrote as the Yankees drew first blood by a score of 8-7. Mike Mussina who is having a great year got the win despite the bullpen.

Carl Pavano is schedule to begin his 4 week rehab Sunday in Tampa

NO MORE SECOND CHANCE . . . AND HOWE

Steve Howe was a promising young reliever when he broke in with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1980. But although he had the presence and poise to become a star in the bigs, his even quicker spiral into the world of substance abuse tempered his quick success with the Dodgers. His most impressive statistic was his record-number of drug-related suspensions (seven).

Today marked the end for the colorful reliever. The former Yankee lefty who played for the Yankees from 1991-1996, lost his life in a car accident at the way too young age of 48. There was a moment of silence at Yankee Stadium before New York played Toronto on Friday night.

Back in the early 90s Howe was the perfect whipping boy at BTB as well as on the road in the American League, not to mention the ppress corps. In 1994 when the players went on strike Steve was selling tickets in Tampa at Spring Training (1995) to help him fulfill his sentence due to the drug charges. As part of his conviction he had to remain working to stay out of jail. They Yankees were behind Steve and let him work at the Ticket Office in Tampa.

Howe, who was a regular at the Yankee Fan Fest was 47-41 with 91 saves and a 3.03 ERA with the Dodgers, Minnesota, Texas as well as the Yankees. His final season in the majors was 1996, and the Yankees released him in June. Two days after the Yankees let him go, Howe was arrested at a Delta Airlines terminal at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport when a loaded .357 Magnum was detected inside his suitcase. He later pleaded guilty to gun possession and was placed on three years probation and given 150 hours of community service. Howe tried a comeback in 1997 with Sioux Falls of the independent Northern League. In August, he was critically injured in a motorcycle accident in Montana and charged with drunken driving. So one has to wonder of his condition when he had his accident.

Steve Howe may not have been the model Yankee, no not even by any stretch of the imagination. He did give it his all everyday and he did know what it meant to wear the pinstripes. The disease that took the not only the pinstripes but from the game from as well may have made a return visit and may have taken his life.

Unfortunately Howe will not be remembered for being a Yankee, not for being the hot shot reliever, not even for playing the game that he loved. Steve will be remembered for his seven "second chances". Sadly there are no second chances in life. RIP Steve. 1958-2006

SEASON OF WASTED OPPORTUNITIES

I would like to send a wake up call to our Yankees to start playing like a team. You are swinging at too many first pitches, letting too many close pitches go by with a two strike count and just looking awkward at the plate.

I know it is early and I am not panicing. I know we were 9-19 last season and came back from 14 games back in 78. This is 2006 my friends and the only destiny we have control of is our own. We can't make the Bostons, Torontos and baltimores lose unless we are playing them. Frankly we haven't been doing the best job of that. A good team wins one run games a bad team doesn't. So far we a re 0-4 in one run games.

Are we going to come around? I have no doubt. My question is when??? We don't need this torture. Let's Go Yankees.

And on a side note Let's Go Devils and Nets.

TOP NON SEXIEST MEN LIST

A magazine in Boston has released its list of the ugliest male celebrities. (No Asburry, Hideki Masui was not listed.) Randy Johnson took the #2 honors and Don Zimmer finished in the #29 spot. The Phoenix arts and entertainment alternative newsweekly ranked the "100 unsexiest unsexiest men in the world."

MO BLOWS FIRST SAVE

Just when it looked safe to go back in the water Mariano Rivera gave up the winning single with two outs in the ninth for a 6-5 Twins victory.
After allowing runners to reach second and third with nobody out in the 9th, Mo proceeded to strike out the next two batters. The rest is history.
We still aren't playing they way we should and Jaret Wright doesn't seem to be anything more than dead weight. Anyway we will see what happens next time out.

BASEBALL HISTORIAN

and Bomber Buddy Harvey Frommer is on the CNN PODCAST for APRIL 2006 Check it out. http://www.cnn.com/services/podcasting

OPENING DAY (NIGHT)

The 2006 Baseball Season officially takes off tonight as the Champion White Sox take on the Tribe at the New Comminsky or whatever they are calling it this week. In a game that was traditionally the Reds and Cubbies for years the two AL Central rivals open it all up in what really should be called Opening Night. Mark Burehrele makes his 5th Straight OD start against Cleveland's CC Sabathia.

Tomorrow night in Oakland the Yankees send the Big Unit against the A's in the quest for #27.

Luckiest Fans On The Face Of This Earth: History of New York Yankees Fall Classics

as written by author and essayist Michael Aubrecht of the Pinstripe Press

No team in the history of Major League Baseball has ever dominated the postseason like the New York Yankees and their storied franchise currently leads all sports teams in championships-won. From Ruth and Gehrig - to Jeter and Rivera - the history of the "Bronx Bombers" in the Fall Classic continues to be written and rewritten again and again! The intent of this website is to provide fans with a concise, online reference guide featuring New York's World Series notables. I have also included several detailed studies into my own personal favorite Yankees World Series subjects, little known facts from Baseball-Almanac and key historical events that took place off the field. From purists and historians, to novices alike, this website has something for everyone!

BOOK REVIEW

The Last Nine Innings
By Charles Euchner
A Review By Phil Speranza

A baseball fan reads a book about baseball because he loves the game. The key word there is game. The cover itself will turn off the avid Yankee fan. The slogan "You'll Never watch a Baseball Game The Same Way." Broadcasts the fact that it more than just a baseball book. The author Charles Euchner has written six other books that deal with the business of baseball as far as the amenities go.

As far as the baseball purest goes the slogan itself tells you this book is more than the game. The photo brings back a bad memory to the Yankee fan all by itself. The photo is enough to keep the Yankee fan from buying the book. The photo depicts Luis Gonzalez's game winning hit with one out in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. A game that had Yankees written all over it. From the travesty of the WTC bombings to a World Series where the Yankees should have been swept.

Mr. Euchner marks this hit and game as a turning point in the make up of todays game. It is at this point that he asks the question Is Baseball Better or Worse? He questions everything from psychology, movements, fitness, and their relationship with the "new" stats of the game. He blasts everything from the media to the free agent system and naturally jumps on the steroids bandwagon.

The author uses Game 7 of the 2001 World Series as the main focal point to rip into the game that we love. He takes shots at Paul O'Neill as well as teen idol Derek Jeter. O'Neill's base running choices that feeds fuel to a discussion about the theory and practice of base running; he takes a sharp grounder to Jeter in the second inning and make it gospel of his whole career and shoots down the use of fielding stats in general.

Euchner hits just about everything: there are treatments on the mechanics and physics of hitting and pitching, the intricacies of managing, and the globalization of the game, and quite a few other subjects. The author makes a simple game way to complicated and if one reads this book to learn about the game they would probably chose another sport to be a fan of. You didn't think that game seven had such an impact did you?

Mr. Euchner does a great job of detailing the events of each inning in with conversations he's had with the managers of each team, the players, and other people associated with the game of baseball. I probably would have enjoyed that more if my team won, but it was a great insight into what went wrong. He also uncovers trivial tidbits like conversations with Mariano Rivera where he reveals why he plans to devote himself to God after his playing days are over. Her brings forth the fact that Mariano's close friend and teammate; Enrique Wilson may be dead now if the Yankees had won that game. It seems Wilson had reservations on Flight 587 to the Dominican Republic; which crashed bearing no survivors upon take off. Once the Yankees fell to the D-backs Enrique changed his reservations to an earlier flight and the rest is history.

While it brings up a lot of trivial, although some useless facts the book is quite an interesting read but maybe not for the between the lines baseball fan as it brings up way too many bad memories for the Bronx Bomber fans.

JP DAWSON AWARD

Former Staten Island Yankee 1B/3B Eric Duncan was voted winner of the 2006 JP Dawson Award. The award is given to the best rookie in Spring Training. Duncan joins the ranks of Don Mattingly, Jorge Posada and Willie Randolph among others.

YANKS TAKE GAMBLE ON PROCTOR

Scott Proctor who is out of options extended his lease in pinstripes due to injuries to Aaron Small. He did have a great spring as well. Proctor impressed the Yanks with a 1.06 ERA over 17 innings this spring and will begin the year as a long reliever. The way the starters have been dropping don't be surprised if he makes a start or two this season.

Jaret Wright will make his first appearance in a game since March 18 when he pitches in a minor-league game today. Wright, who said he's over the back spasms that sidelined him, is waiting to find out his role at the start of the season. Joe Torre and Ron Guidry will watch Wright pitch and said he'll likely announce his rotation tomorrow. Lee Mazzilli will stay back at Tampa and manage the Yanks against the D-Rays.

BEHIND THE BOMBERS BRIEFS

Holy Cow Yankee fans we went from 7 starters to three in no time at all. Chien Ming "Don't Call Me Tiger" Wang will test out his bruised knee Friday as the Yankees return to the scene of the 2001 World Series Arizona. So if all goes well it looks like Wang will be the number 4 hurler behind Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina and Shawn Chacon.

Speaking of Randy Johnson, he showed his classlessness these past couple of days. RJ has gone to court demanding that an ex-girlfriend return less than $100,000 in day care payments he made for a daughter they had out of wedlock 16 years ago, the Smoking Gun Web site reports. Johnson last month petitioned a judge in Island County, Wash., for return of the $750 a month in day care payments he provided over eight years to the girl's mother, Laurel Roszwell. He's also demanding interest, for a total of about $93,000.
Johnson has also been paying $5,000 a month in child support, none of which is in dispute. Johnson and Laurel Roszwell did not enter into a child-support agreement until the girl, Heather Roszwell, was 8 years old. You may have a point Randy but suck it up and show some class. Let her keep the money.

BY A NOSE
Jorge Posada is expected to be behind the plate come Opening Day in Oakland after he return to defensive action this afternoon. Posada took part in the team's workout before Sunday's game against Detroit, taking batting practice, but he wasn't expected to return to game action until Tuesday or Wednesday.

A few thoughts about the game and other stuff:...

Barry "Goodad" Spencer Special Guest Blogger


1. Proctor looked really good. He's got hisself a slider now, and he's throwing it for strikes. He's also got hisself a changeup now, and he's throwing it for strikes. He actually appeared to get stronger as the game went into the 4th. Word is they're grooming him for long relief.

2. Pavano looked ok. I hate back problems in pitchers. Especially young ones. They can flare up at a moments notice. Fingers crossed.

3. Jorge was plugged in as DH. Looking like rocky raccoon his timing is a little off. But, consider this. If Joe uses him like he did last year, a few weeks off in the Spring should facilitate fresher legs for Hip. Bodes well for our October.

4. Murcer and Singleton mentioned the Yanks had been doing defensive drills earlier that day. Specifically infield defense. Both were kinda surprised about this so late in Spring training. Which begs the question, why so surprised? You can never work on fundamentals too much. Stinnett was taking pops behind the plate. Anybody who has ever been there knows, there is no such thing as an easy pop up the catcher has to field. All this continuing work on infield fundamentals has a Larry Bowa flavor to it. And I like it a lot!

5. Bowa has also been working with Cano on keeping his glove down, and teaching him to anticipate a bad hop on every play. Basic infield mechanics, taught in Little League, but you could see the difference in Cano's fielding last night. Much more sure handed. Much more fundamentally sound. Don't let Bowa's efforst go unnoticed as you watch the Yanks infield this year.

6. Mazzilli on the bench is also going to be a major asset to Joe. Joe has a great deal of respect for his former 1st base coach. Maz has a great baseball mind, and watches the game with a keen eye. He's also a walking rule book.

7. Giambi's eye for the plate is right there! What a surprise!8. The importance of renewed interest in working on sound baseball fundamentals can not be emphasized enough. Mental errors cost ballgames, and by the break in July, I expect to hear from more than a few announcers, how fundamentally sound this years Yankees play the game.

My predictions for this year:

1. Look for a lot of fun.

2. Look for a lot of frustration.

3. Look for a lot of crooked numbers.

4. Look for a lot of wins.Last night I could feel the tingle of anticipation as opening day draws near.

And with the last pre-season game Saturday afternoon, it's almost time for Yankinit to set the table, and the great AlanH to bring it home in true BTB tradition.

LOOKING BACK AT THE WBC AND SPRING TRAINING 2006

With the rosters trimming down and Opening Day in site, it is time to rewind and look back at just what we have seen this Spring. Sources say that this years crop of players have beat last Spring's bunch hands down. Yankee Spring Training has been Kevin Heaven as both outfielders Kevin "KT" Thompson and Kevin Reese have had super pre seasons. However both player will benefit by heading to Columbus to start the season with our old friend Melky Cabrera.

That does however make the Columbus outfield a little crowded. Melky had a great spring being a step ahead having played winter ball. Miguel Cairo is happy to be in pinstripes and had a great spring as well.

How accurate has the performances been during the Spring? Well, you have to take into consideration that a lot of the kids have been given more exposure being a good portion of the regulars have been participating in the World Baseball Classic. The results of the "Spring Break" have yet to be seen.

• Will the regulars be ready to start the season?
• Will they run out of gas earlier than normal?
• Are the good outings by some of the kids been misrepresentation to the the lower quality of competition?

These questions all remain unanswered. We probably wont know all the answers until September.

I must admit I wasn't excited about the WBC but I really enjoyed watching the tournament. Sure there are bugs to be worked out but the best teams won. Next time around I wouldn't be surprised if the preparation changes for the US and Dominican teams. The Japan, Korean and Cuban teams were better prepared and it showed and deservingly so.

Opening Day is coming and the Yanks will be involved with three of them. Before they get home to their own the playing in both the Angel and Athletic home openers. All I can say is "Play Ball".