Wakefield News: Yanks Tickled Pink

Wakefield News: Yanks Tickled Pink: Yanks Tickled Pink Pineda Fans 16, Remains Undefeated in 2015  By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 11- Sunday’s starting p...

Yanks Tickled Pink

Yanks Tickled Pink

Pineda Fans 16, Remains Undefeated in 2015 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 11- Sunday’s starting pitcher for the Yankees, Michael Pineda, zeroed in on the strike zone throughout his outstanding pitching performance. The Dominican native fanned 16 batters, a career high in seven innings. It is only the seventh time since 1900 that a pitcher has struck out that many in as few as seven innings.

He struck out each of the Oriole batters he faced except J. J. Hardy. It was the second highest total of strikeouts in a single game for the Yankees. He tied the mark set by perfect game pitchers, David Wells and David Cone, and has been bested only by Ron Guidry, who fanned 18 in 9 innings on June 11, 1978.

The 26 year old has exhibited an amazing control of his pitches. On Sunday, he struck out 16 without issuing a walk. The last time a major league pitcher accomplished that feat was on August 19, 2007, when Johan Santana struck out 17 without walking a batter.

The total for his seven starts in 2015 are 54 strikeouts and three walks for an American League high k/bb ratio of 18.00, second only to Bartolo Colon in the majors.

He is one of only five active major league pitchers who have multiple appearances with at least seven strikeouts and zero walks.

Pineda’s catcher on Sunday, Brian McCann, was impressed, but not surprised by the pitcher’s performance, “He had all three pitches working. When you can throw three pitches for strikes whenever you want that allows the pitcher to attack the hitters. He doesn’t walk any guys. He pounds the zone. His stuff is electric every time he takes the ball.”

Yankee skipper Joe Girardi, a former catcher, described what he saw, “Location, outstanding mix of pitches, deception. A lot of things have to go right to get 16 strikeouts in 21 outs. Oh God, he was really good!”

Girardi explained why he removed Pineda from the contest after seven frames, “The time of the year, how young he is, how important he is to the team, and the pitch count (111).”

The result of Pineda’s work was another Yankee victory and the team’s continued presence in first place in the American League East. Pineda remained undefeated, 5‐0, in his seven starts this season. He is also undefeated in six contests with the Baltimore Orioles, who lost 6‐2, with a mark of 3‐0.

Pineda, naturally a happy person, was overjoyed, “Today was the best game. The weather was like the weather in the Dominican. It’s Mother’s Day.” The devout player’s reaction in general, “Thank you God.”

#Yankees #MichaelPineda #MothersDay #Bronxnews

Wakefield News: Celebrate the Bronx

Wakefield News: Celebrate the Bronx: Celebrate the Bronx BP kicks off Bronx Week 2015 BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. officially launched Bron...

Celebrate the Bronx

Celebrate the Bronx

BP kicks off Bronx Week 2015

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. officially launched Bronx Week 2015 on Sunday, hosting a celebration of the “Best of the Bronx” with a street festival at the Bronx General Post Office on Grand Concourse and East 149th Street.

“I always look forward to this time of the year, when we celebrate everything that is great about The Bronx,” said Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We kick things off with this great street fair on Sunday, holding 10 days’ worth of amazing and fun events for the whole family throughout the borough, all culminating with the Walk of Fame inductions and parade.”

A full calendar of events is available at www.ilovethebronx.com.

“Bronx Week is the opportunity to showcase the Best of The Bronx,” said Bronx Tourism Council Executive Director Olga Luz Tirado. “There is a lot to celebrate -- tourism, overall, is up in the borough. Our attractions are reporting a substantial increase in visitors. We are enjoying increased positive coverage from media. It's a great time to be in The Bronx right now.”

“Bronx Week is a time to celebrate our businesses, big and small, that provide much needed jobs to our community as well as a time to honor veterans, seniors, youth, volunteers and our hometown greats,” said Marlene Cintron, president of The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.

“As a new member to the community, we are excited to be a part of our first Bronx Week and to host the first event with Borough President Ruben Diaz at this iconic site,” said Christine Nebiar, marketing director for Youngwoo & Associates, LLC, who is sponsoring the kick-off event alongside The Bristol Group. “The Bronx has so much to celebrate and we are thrilled to invite New Yorkers to experience the borough at its best. The historic Bronx Post office will transform into a center of culture, community, and commerce and we hope to feature the great talents in food, art, music, and business.”

This year, four new individuals will be inducted to the Bronx Walk of Fame. They are actor and activist Malik Yoba; National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes; and actress, author and television commentator Stacey Dash. Longtime borough business leader, philanthropist and the founder of Delicioso Coco Helado, Alfredo Thiebaud will also be posthumously inducted in to the Bronx Walk of Fame.

Bronx Week 2015 is made possible thanks to the support of the Montefiore Medical Center, the principal sponsors of this year’s events.

"Montefiore is proud to support Bronx Week,” said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president and CEO of Montefiore Health System. “Bronx Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate our strengths and the progress we are making to improve our communities. It’s a chance to highlight how healthcare providers like Montefiore, community based organizations and elected officials are joining forces to ensure Bronx residents have the tools and access they need for optimal health and wellness. Working together, the future of our borough is bright.”

Other Bronx Week 2015 sponsors include Care Connect, United HealthCare Community Plan, Healthfirst, HealthPlus Amerigroup, CenterLight Healthcare, conEdison, Lehman College, Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, Cablevision, WellCare, Affinity Health Plan, AT&T, News 12, Domino’s, Bronxnet, Delicioso Coco Helado, Bronx Design Group, Emblem, Jewish Home LifeCare, Millennium Medical Staffing, and VNSNY.

#BronxWeek #BronxBoroughPresident #Malik Yoba #Stacey Dash #Bronxnews

Wakefield News: A-Rod Breaks Home Run Record *

Wakefield News: A-Rod Breaks Home Run Record *: A-Rod Breaks Home Run Record * Another Record Home Run Does Not Mean It’s All Good for A-Rod By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, M...

A-Rod Breaks Home Run Record *

A-Rod Breaks Home Run Record *

Another Record Home Run Does Not Mean It’s All Good for A-Rod

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 8- The 661st career home run that Alex Rodriguez hit to the left-center field Thursday night at Yankee Stadium surpassing Willie Mays for sole possession of fourth place on baseball’s all-time list may mean something for the record books. It does not mean that Yankees management will budge and give A-Rod the millions that were a part of his lucrative contract.

And it certainly does not mean that the home run, unless you are sympathetic to A-Rod, is a legitimate milestone. 

And despite an overall love fest from Yankee fans that has returned, there are still some who will not stand up and cheer as they did in the Bronx after the so-called historic home run. There are those who will not forgive and forget that Alex Rodriguez did it the wrong way. Then there are those who will forgive, because Rodriguez paid his dues by sitting out all of last year due to a suspension for violating baseball’s anti drug policies.

PEDs to many meant nothing when he rounded the bases with a big smile after the home run. And the next milestone, surpassing Babe Ruth, all of a sudden seems that more probable, but there is that question of accepting every home run hit now as being a part of the record book.

The question of accepting these home runs as a part of the record book will always be a subject of debate. Whether or not Alex Rodriguez has been accepted overall by baseball fans, or for that matter sports fans, who view records as importance is also something that will continue to be a subject of discussion.

The Yankees apparently are not making the home run milestones an important priority. They are happy to have A-Rod back in the lineup, and they should be because this early season comeback has seen him produce runs for a team that had serious issues doing that last season. He has quietly been doing the job and to the Yankees hierarchy, an Alex Rodriguez home run means more towards winning than achieving another milestone, or surpassing Willie Mays or Babe Ruth.

“It’s been a long time since I had a curtain call,” Rodriguez said about the fans in his post game meeting with the media. And there may be more curtain calls for A-Rod in the Bronx if he continues to hit home runs. Because this Yankees team has been hitting the long ball in the Bronx, and because fans will cheer for any type of runs that cross home plate, they will have reason to cheer. 

And if it is Alex Rodriguez, and in their ballpark, they will cheer. The Yankees though are having a different approach. Post game media notes did not highlight the milestone home run, and what should have been a headline was highlighted as number three after the important facts of Yankees wins in their last 20 games and the season series record of 2-2 against the Baltimore Orioles.   

Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds, they are next after Ruth. A-Rod may not be around that long enough to surpass them, but you can never tell how much longer or how many more home runs he can produce. And take into consideration, and we can assume this is true, for the first time Alex Rodriguez is hitting home runs out of the ballpark without the assistance of Ped’s.

So there is that room for forgiveness, at least from the perspective of fans who are paying big bucks to see A-Rod hit legitimate home runs in the Bronx.

"When you're productive, you re-earn their respect and they pull for you," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said about the fans. "That's the bottom line as players, not just in our sport but in all sports. They want to see their players successful. It really came down to how productive he was going to be, that really determined how he was going to be received. So far he's done a really good job."

And A-Rod overall has been doing the job. It started in spring training by giving the right answers to the media. The proper approach to the answers has continued to be acceptable enough to pass a damage control class.

Consider that Alex Rodriguez praised Mays, the man he surpassed. That he mentioned  how proud his late father would have been to see the milestone home run. And he mentioned how important it was to be playing baseball again after sitting out the last year. There was no mention again of rehashing the events, and A-Rod quickly got around the question of the possible battle of his employers not paying the millions that were specified in the contract of surpassing Mays, Ruth, or beyond.

No, that battle may be left for another time as the Yankees continue go about their business of winning games, and doing that with a healthy Alex Rodriguez in their lineup.

Rodriguez said about the fans reacting to the milestone home run: “I thought the reaction was incredible. It was very humbling. We have the greatest fans in the world. They treated me really good all year and it’s fueling the way I’m playing. I’ve said it all along, the league, the Yankees the fans, nobody owes me anything. I’m so grateful to be playing baseball and I’m thankful to everyone.”        

The question though lingers and it should: Does home run 661, and more to come be a part of the record books? Those who consider cheating attributed to a majority of those home runs will say they don’t count. Then there are those who say it doesn’t matter, but it should. An admission of guilt after battling the denial of using PEDs is evidence that those home runs are fiction. 

In the end the home runs go in the record book. The Yankees as a team won’t have an opinion either way if A-Rod adds to his career home run total. To them that means production coming from a spot in their lineup that was going to be a hit or a miss.

To the Yankees hierarchy, well that is another dilemma and the drama will continue.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  Twitter@Ring786 

#ARod #Homerun #PED #Yankees #Sports #Bronxnews

Wakefield News: Rivera to step down?

Wakefield News: Rivera to step down?: Rivera to step down?  Bx. pol putting pressure in Mt. Vernon race? 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY ...