Archive for October, 2009

Earlier this month, during my trip to Italy, I spotted a couple of Yankee hats being sold on the streets in Venice.

Here’s another:

The New York Jets have lowered the price of Mezzanine Club tickets.

• Mezzanine Club Corner was lowered from $400 to $195 per ticket (PSL remains $5,000 per seat)
• Mezzanine Club Goal Line was lowered from $400 to $245 per ticket (PSL remains $7,500 per seat)
• Mezzanine Club Sideline was lowered from $500 to &295 per ticket (PSL remains $15,000 per seat)
• Mezzanine Club Prime was lowered from $500 to $395 per ticket (PSL remains $25,000 per seat)

Get more information on Jets 2010 season tickets at the new Meadowlands stadium

It’s only one game. Other teams over the last few years have comeback down a game or two. We’ve even seen a team come back down 0-3 (let’s not talk about that). Why can’t the Yankees come back?. Is it because we’re not used to the Yankees being down this postseason? Is that why pessimism is reigning over? We knew the Yankees weren’t going to sweep this great Phillies team. We expected six or seven games and we’re going to get six or seven games. The Yankees were down 0-2 in 1996 and won the next four straight. The Yankees can come back late in a game, why can’t they come back down one game in a series? Optimism.

It’s one game. Cliff Lee was phenomenal. Nothing can be taken away from the job he did but the Yankees’ offense can’t do any worse. They’ll rebound against Pedro in game two.

The Yankees aren’t panicking after one game. They understand baseball and how dominating a performance Lee had in game one. The media and the fans are the ones panicking. Pessimism.

Cliff Lee mastered the Yankees in game one of the World Series. CC Sabathia got touched up by two Chase Utley solo home runs and the Phillies poured it on against the Yankees’ bullpen for two in the 8th and two in the 9th to win game one 6-1.

Those tack on runs late in the game are costly. It takes away hope. Down by two runs, a bloop and a blast ties the game. Down by six runs, it takes a major rally to come back.

Phil Hughes couldn’t retire a batter in the 8th and left after walking the only two batters he faced. Both of those runners came around to score. If the Yankees have any confidence left in Hughes, it’s miniscule. The Yankees also won’t have much confidence in Brian Bruney after he was charged with two runs in the 9th. After game one, the Yankees may have the most confidence in lefty specialist Damaso Marte, who recorded two big outs in the 8th before being relieved by Dave Robertson. Robertson gave up a hit to the next batter that drove in two runs.

Derek Jeter was the only offensive bright spot for the Yankees with three hits. The rest of the Yankees had a total three hits combined. The Yankees broke the shutout with an unearned run in the bottom of the 9th.

The Yankees face a familiar foe in game two; Pedro Martinez. The Yanks will have a chance to put up some runs and will hope AJ Burnett can shutdown the Phillies offense.

Mark Sanchez’s hot dog incident has gotten more attention than the Jets 38-0 shutout victory over the Raiders. Sanchez has apologized for the incident and has taken it one step further. Sanchez has donated 500 hot dogs and 500 hamburgers to the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown, N.J.

Rex Ryan said, “I think Mark is doing the right thing with the plans that he has.”

The Yankees have added OF/IF Eric Hinske and RP Brian Bruney to their World Series roster, replacing OF Freddy Guzman and C Francisco Cervelli.

Here is the Yankees official World Series Roster:

Position Players: C Jorge Posada, C Jose Molina, 1B Mark Teixeira, 2B Robinson Cano, SS Derek Jeter, 3B Alex Rodriguez, IF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr, LF Johnny Damon, CF Melky Cabrera, CF Brett Gardner, RF Nick Swisher, DH Hideki Matsui, OF Eric Hinske

Pitchers: SP CC Sabathia, SP AJ Burnett, SP Andy Pettitte, RP Phil Coke, RP Damaso Marte, RP Dave Robertson, RP Alfredo Aceves, RP Brian Bruney, RP Joba Chamberlain, RP Chad Gaudin, RP Phil Hughes, C Mariano Rivera

Neither team has confirmed their starters throughout the entire series but here are the probable starters. Game one starters have been confirmed by both teams.

Game 1 Wed, Oct 28. Cliff Lee @ CC Sabathia (Phillies won 6-1)
Game 2 Thurs, Oct 29. Pedro Martinez @ AJ Burnett (Yankees won 3-1)
Game 3 Sat, Oct 31. Andy Pettitte @ Cole Hamels

The Yankees will most like go with just three starting pitchers in the World Series.

The rest of the series could look something like this:

Game 4 Sun, Nov 1. CC Sabathia @ Joe Blanton
Game 5 Mon, Nov 2. AJ Burnett @ Cliff Lee
Game 6 Wed, Nov 4. Pedro Martinez @ Andy Pettitte
Game 7* Thurs, Nov 5. Cole Hamels @ CC Sabathia

* if necessary

U2 will be performing at the new stadium in the Meadowlands on July 19, 2010 and New York Jets PSL owners will have a chance to get tickets before the general public. A special ticket presale will be available for Jets PSL owners. At least some good things are to come for paying the Jets a boat load to own season tickets.

The dates for the presale have not been released yet and Jets PSL owners should expect more information in an email soon.

The loss of Leon Washington has opened the door for Justin Miller to return to the Jets as a kick returner. Miller was the Jets second round pick, 25th overall, out of Clemson in 2005. Miller spent three seasons with the Jets and made the Pro Bowl in 2007. He signed with Oakland last season after being waived by the Jets. After playing in all 16 games in each of his first two seasons, Miller has played in just 11 games since 2007. He will take over kick return duties for the Jets. Miller has returned five kickoffs for touchdowns in his career.