Willie Randolph, Bernie Williams, and Half of the Core Four to be Honored at Monument Park

The Yankees announced today that they will retire the uniform numbers of Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte in pregame ceremonies at Yankee Stadium this season.

Image Credit: nydailynews.com

Willie Randolph, a member of the Yankees' 1977 and 1978 world championship team, a former Yankees' co-captain and was a coach for 11 seasons, will also be honored with a plaque in Monument Park. Randolph played 18 Major League seasons (12 with the Yankees) where he hit a career .276/.373/.351 with 54 HR’s and 687 RBI’s.

Image Credit: foxsports.com

Bernie Williams, who played center field for the team that won the World Series four times in five seasons between 1996 and 2000, will be honored on May 24 before a Sunday night game against the Texas Rangers. Williams played his entire 16-year career with the Yankees, hitting .297 in 2,076 games, and is fifth in franchise history with 2,336 hits. He is the club leader with 22 postseason home runs and 80 postseason RBIs.

Jorge Posada also played on four Yankees championship teams, including the 2009 team that beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. (He appeared in eight games for the '96 team but didn't play in the postseason.) Posada played his entire 17-year career with the Yankees, hitting .273 in 1,829 games. He is second all time with 125 postseason games. He will be honored on Aug. 22 before a Saturday afternoon game against the Cleveland Indians.

Andy Pettitte finished his career with a 256-153 record and 3.85 ERA. He has won more games (19) than anyone else in playoff history. His postseason ERA is 3.81 in 276 2/3 innings. Pettitte, a member of five Yankees world championship teams, will be honored on Aug. 23.

Their numbers join those of Billy Martin (1), Babe Ruth (3), Lou Gehrig (4), Joe DiMaggio (5), Joe Torre (6), Mickey Mantle (7), Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey (8), Roger Maris (9), Phil Rizzuto (10), Thurman Munson (15), Whitey Ford (16), Don Mattingly (23), Elston Howard (32), Casey Stengel (37), Mariano Rivera (42), Reggie Jackson (44) and Ron Guidry (49).

Article by: Christine O'Connor

Twitter: @ChristineeeeO

Yankees Core 4 and the end of an amazing ERA

Yankees Core 4 and the end of an amazing ERA

By Frantz Paul 

Photo Credit:cbsSports.com

Well Yankees nation, it’s been a hell of a run we’ve had since 1996. The run I’m talking about is the one involving the core 4 Yankee legends of Mariano Rivera, Andy Petite, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter. That quartet of greatness has brought Yankees fans across the globe some of the greatest moments in our sporting lives, and we can never repay them for what they brought to Yankees nation. But with the core four almost completely off the playing field with Derek Jeter retiring after this 2014 MLB season, how will we cope and prosper?

The Core 4 And Why Yankees Nation Is Scared… 

As much as the world loves to make a bid deal about the supposed abhorrent amount of money that late great Yankees owner George Steinbrenner spent on players over the years, detractors always fail to mention that the cornerstones of the franchise for the last 20 years were homegrown Yankees. Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Andy Petite and Mariano Rivera are all true Yankees to the core and came up with the organization from the outset. With Jeter at shortstop, Petite on the mound, Posada directing traffic, and Rivera shutting the door on batters for years, the core 4 brought the Yankees 5 championships. With those 4 players on the Yankees roster, the Yankees always stood a chance to go deep in the playoffs and bring championships to the Bronx. If there was ever a need for a clutch hit, who was better on an 0-2 count in the playoffs than El Capitan himself Jeter? No one, and all his clutch hits and plays over his career have proved it. Whenever the Yankees needed an Ace to come to the mound and give Jeter and the boys a chance to win, Joe Torre always called on Andy Petite to go deep into the pitch count and make sure he kept rival bats quiet. And crouching behind the batters throwing guys out and quarterbacking the offense was the always-reliable Jorge Posada; who was there for a timely hit when the Yankees needed him. And last but definitely not least is the Hammer of God himself Mariano Rivera. Any man that comes out to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” is a Legend for that alone. But once Mariano touched the mound, opposing batters knew their number was up. In baseball there are 5 tool players meaning an athlete who excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning skills and speed, throwing ability, and fielding abilities. Those are the ideal position players. And then there are pitchers that have multiple pitches they can beat you with. Mariano is the greatest closer of all-time and he did it with one pitch his entire career, the fastball. They say the true sign of madness is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result. Batters facing Mariano knew what was coming, were ready for it, swung thinking there would be a different result from their prior encounter with Mariano, only to find themselves walking to the dugout with a broken bat and shattered dreams. Of course George spent money to build a powerhouse team on the foundation that was the Core 4, but it all started with them. But now, there’s only one left standing, and Jeter’s run has come to its end. It looks like there may be dark times ahead for the Yankees and there isn’t another Core 4 waiting in the wings to build on.

The Yankees have Yangervis Solarte who is still relatively young at 27 years old and is a really good 3^rd basemen. And they also have their newest ace in Masahiro Tanaka who has taken Major League Baseball by storm and is just 25 years old. Tanaka is still too early in his major league career for us to know if what he’s been doing in the Majors is sustainable. But if what we’ve seen so far is the real deal, then the Yankees have their future ace for years to come. But barring those two and maybe a few guys in the minors, the Yankees future doesn’t seem like an envious one right now.  The Yankees are an older team who are injury prone and just fighting to stay alive in their own division. The Yankees are playing .500 baseball so far this season, and are 5 back in the division behind the Baltimore Orioles. With players like Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Ivan Nova and Carlos Beltran on the Disabled List, the Yankees are short on arms and some hitting. Maybe the Yankees will get all those players back at the right time in August, and start making a run for October. But once the season is over, the Yankees organization as a whole has to really take a look at everything from top to bottom and figure out how this team will get back to winning trophies regularly like the fans were used to under the Core 4. 

We will all miss what Jeter, Posada, Petite, and Rivera brought our lives since the mid-90’s. Hopefully the Steinbrenner’s have something players brewing in the minors that’ll propel the organization back into the forefront after some grooming. If not, Yankees Nation should enjoy what we have left of Captain Jeter, and what the other three Core 4 members gave us, and be glad you were part of it. I know I am. 

Follow @LSN_Frantz on Twitter  

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with former Yankees legend, Roy White! Plus, the Yankees home opener recap, and more.

I'm back with yet ANOTHER exclusive interview, this time, with 1977 World Series champion, Roy White!

....but first, let me start off by recappinf home opener, on April 7th, 2014. Before going inside, I was outside the stadium early in the morning. I was lucky enough to catch a few of the guys heading inside to the game. I caught the parents of Derek Jeter heading in, however, they refused to sign anything or take photos. I was lucky enough to (briefly) speak with David Cone again. He stopped to sign autographs and take pictures, with EVERYONE who surrounded him, and there were quite a few people there. He signed for at least about 5 minutes straight, before heading into the stadium.

(Derek Jeters parents)

I went inside before the game started, to make sure I was in my seats in time for first pitch. Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte took over the mound, to both throw out the first pitch. Derek Jeter, and former Yankee catcher Jorge Posada, went behind home plate to catch the first pitches. 

(Derek Jeter's first at bat, of his last home opener)

Not too long after, Jeter took the field for his LAST home opener, and when he took his first at bat, he got quite the standing ovation....

I really gotta say, the feeling just wasn't there. The vibe is gone. I feel this team hasn't been the same since Posada left, then after that, it just kept getting worse, as far as that "magical feeling" in the Bronx. With Jeter being the only member of the core four left, and seeing that this is pretty much an entire new team, it just isn't the same anymore, and it never will be. These are just NOT the "New York Yankees," anymore. Next year will be even worse and much more surreal. A REAL eye opener to any TRUE Yankee fan.

The Yanks went on to get the win for "Jeet's" last home opener, but this could be one of his last memorable games this season. This team is just looking VERY unhealthy. Yes, its extremely early and just the very beginning of the season, but the ongoing injuries seem to be getting the best of this team, which is nothing new. Ivan Nova underwent Tommy John surgery and is out for the year. Pineda was only scheduled to miss ONE game out of the rotation, as he was suspended for 10 games for his use of pine tar. However, due to a shoulder strain injury, he is set to miss 3-4 weeks. 

Mark Teixeira, who's been hitting a few bombs the past few games, was placed on the DL for 15 days at the beginning of the season, with a hamstring injury. Ellsbury has also been benched in-consecutively since the start of his first season in pinstripes. 

I hope I'm wrong, but this team is just not built to make the playoffs, & if they are able to clinch, it's not looking like they are capable to further advance.

 
I was invited to a private event at Yankee Stadium, which took place in the Fed Ex suite, the day after home opener, on April 8th, 2014. This event featured a 2 hour brunch, a ticket to the game at 1pm, and of course an autograph signing by former Yankees, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, and Roy White.

White, wearing his 1977 World Series Championship ring, was all smiles while signing autographs for fans who attended. I was brave enough to ask him for an interview, and I was lucky enough to have him say yes! I also tried to get "El Duque" for an interview, but it would be slightly difficult, as I could tell from briefly speaking to him a little bit, that his English still isn't too well. 

HERE is the interview! Enjoy.

By:: Dana P. (Blog Owner/Editor in Chief)

And then there was none. Derek Jeter announces his retirement, as the last member of the Core Four.

Today was every Yankee fans worst nightmare. We all knew it was coming, but we didn't expect it anytime soon, and we certainly did not expect it THIS year. As I sit here fighting back my tears, I can't believe I'm writing Derek Jeter has announced that 2014, will be his last year as a Major League Baseball player. 

I don't know where to begin. This is devastating. My generation grew up on Derek Jeter. Whether you're a Met fan, Tampa fan, or even a Boston fan, it was pretty much impossible to not have respect for this man. Not only has he achieved SO much throughout his career to now be called a LEGEND, he was an all around, gentleman. Keeping out of the media for negativity is a hard thing to do these days, but he always managed to take the media spotlight in a GOOD way. Whether it were for his charity, and doing various events such as speaking in schools, or taking the time out to sign autographs for fans, there is not a bad bone in his body. 

On the field, thoughout his 18 years of playing baseball, he was NEVER ejected from a game! His milestone will live FOREVER!

After watching Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and lastly Mariano Rivera all announce their retirement speeches, I think this one is gonna be the roughest of them all. 

I can't even speak right now about what Cashmans next move is going to be, to replace him. Or if The Captain will join the team as a coach eventually. That's not important right now. What's important is, keeping him healthy and giving him the most memorable season of his life. What's sad is that his last game could not be played at the old Yankee Stadium. However, I think this is going to be extra motivation, for the team to get their 28th World Series ring. 

That being said, let's do this. Bring on the 2014 season and do it for The Caption! 

</3

By:: Dana P. (Blog Owner/Editor in Chief)