FREDDY GARCIA: A YANKEE UPDATE

Last night Freddy Garcia threw 5 2/3 innings and gave up 8 hits and 5 earned runs. Not awful in the world of baseball - since the Yankee offense only scored 3 runs (of which 2 were solo home runs by Jeter and Granderson), all in the first inning.

What concerns me about Garcia is that he is pitching like he's waiting for Andy Pettitte to return and losing his spot in the rotation is a far gone conclusion. Let's face it, when the Yankees announced Pettitte's return, Freddy didn't attend the Welcome Back Andy dinner.

Baseball is full of personal do or die moments in a player's career. Whether it's pitching for your spot in the rotation or in the hitting line up. Times when a player has to dig down deep and find the ability and talent that got them to the majors in the first place.

Freddy has a few more starts to prove he belongs in the rotation. He has to put his pride aside and just pitch. There is a difference between playing with determination and playing pissed off. For his sake, I hope Freddy stops playing pissed. Because if not, Freddy is not only in jeopardy of losing his spot, but losing his pinstripes.

THIS WEEK IN MLB: MY FUNNY VALENTINE, DONNIE AND THE DODGERS AND REMEMBERING JACKIE

Well another week of baseball is in the books and it was interesting yet again.

On Sunday Red Sox Manager, Bobby Valentine called out one his players,
Kevin Youkilis. Valentine stated he didn't think that Youk was playing with the same intensity and drive as he had previously. Everyone knows a big baseball no no is to call out your player in public. Kevin Youkilis is many things but lacking intensity and heart is not one of them. It's possible Pedroia has a point when he said "Maybe that's how they do things in Japan..."regarding his skippper's comment. As a die hard Yankee fan this stuff is better than the Kardashians reality show.

The Yankees are now 5-4 and that's without Andy Pettitte. If he comes back as 2010 Andy, the Yankees may have the team they having been trying to assemble since 2009 and make Cashman look like the genius he thinks he is. Time will tell.

Don Mattingly is showing the West Coast some East Coast old school ball playing. The Dodgers have magic alright, but it's not Johnson - it's Mattingly.

Last but not least, yesterday was Jackie Robinson Day. On April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first black player in major league baseball. All the death threats and name calling endured by Jackie can never be imagined. What Jackie Robinson Day should remind us, is that the civil rights movement did not begin at a lunch counter or on a bus in Selma or Birmingham Alabama; but on a ball field in Brooklyn New York. That truly makes me a proud to be a fan.

MY FAVORITE YANKEES

There have been so many great Yankee players, naming one favorite is impossible. But here are a few of mine and why. Most are recent or current Yankees and some from my childhood. These are in no particular order:

DEREK JETER
No surprise here. "The Captain" What I admire about Jeet is his ability and his will to do just about anything he sets his mind to. I once said if Jeter wanted to will himself to fly, he could. His friend Jorge Posada said once It would be Derek he would want next to him in a foxhole. I get why.

JORGE POSADA
If Jorge wants Derek in a foxhole - I want Jorge in mine. Jorge is what you call a "grinder". Being a catcher is the hardest job in baseball and he never gave anything less than his ALL in every game and every at bat. He also knows that baseball is a boys game played by men and loves the fun aspect of the game.

PAUL O'NEILL
"The Warrior" Intense does not begin to describe Paul. But intensity is what made Paul a winner. When the game was on the line, he was one of the players you want at the plate.

RON GUIDRY
When I think of "Gator", I think of the of a line from Springsteen's Glory Days: "He could throw that speedball by you make you look like a fool boy" Part of his legacy in baseball will be fans clapping for a pitcher with two strike and two outs - that started with Guidry's 18 strikeout game and now a part of baseball.

MARIANO RIVERA
Mo is one of those players every team dreams of. Not just for his pitching ability but for what he brings to a clubhouse. He encourages young players to play the game the right way. He also brings a calmness to a team and makes sure no player ever thinks they are bigger or more important than the team. He also happens to have the BEST smile in baseball!

DON MATTINGLY
Who didn't love "Donnie Baseball" in the 80's? Don was one of those players that just wanted to win - at any cost. He was a captain, like Jeter, that lead by example. He was never going to let the other team get the best of him. In his mind, you had to play your best to beat him.

ANDY PETTITTE
I am THRILLED Andy is back! I love watching Andy pitch with the stare to home plate and one of the best pick off moves in the game. Is there anything better than watching Andy getting pumped after getting a big strike out? There is also no one more humble than Andy - which you find less and less of in the game today.

CURTIS GRANDERSON
Forget the foxhole - if I am stranded on the side of the road, I am hoping Curtis is driving by. One of the best embassadors in baseball today. He brings his intelligence to the game on and off the field. Oh and his sweet swing and power to hit it out isn't bad either. Like Yankee Centerfielders before him, he plays the position hard and with everything he has to give.

Well, that is just some of my favorites. So many others I could name - Joe Torre, Bernie Williams, Thurman Munson, Robinson Cano and so on. Yankee players have brought so much joy to their fans and still do to this day.

To paraphrase Joe D:

I thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee fan!

JORGE POSADA AND HIS DAD

Yesterday, a few months removed from announcing his retirement at Yankee Stadium, Jorge Posada threw out the first pitch of the Yankees home opener. In a beautiful and touching monent, Jorge had his Dad, Jorge Posada, Sr catch it. He has always credited his father for all the success he had as a ballplayer. Imagine giving your father the opportunity to stand behind homeplate of Yankee Stadium and catch a ball you throw from the pitchers mound? I would bet it was one of the best moments they have ever shared. So as Jorge jogged out with his son Jorge Luis to the mound with a standing ovation from the 50,000 plus in attendance and his former teammates standing behind him, Jorge Sr. got into a catcher's squat (which impressed me given he must be close to 70 years old) and caught the ball thrown by his son.

Jorge Posada has done more things as a Yankee player to make me a fan for life than I could name, but that moment of three generations of Posada men is now at the top.

Jorge always understood the history of the Yankees. He knew he was standing on the shoulders of those who came before, like Thuman Munson. But what yesterday showed us, if you didn't know already, Jorge also understands the importance of family, especially those whose shoulders he stands on, like his father.

The New York Yankees have almost closed the book on the era of the Jorge Posada years. There is only one chapter left. That is to retire #20 and give him his rightful place in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.

⚾ #20 ROCKS - FOREVER!! ⚾

(Jorge and his Dad in the Yankee dugout, April 13, 2012, courtesy of Laura Posada via Twitter)

DO NOT TRASH TALK MY YANKEES

When the Yankees lost their first game last Friday, I posted a comment on my Facebook wall - a few words of encouragement for my fellow Yankee fans. The response I got was from a FB friend and Rays fan who posted thoughts of how happy he was over the Yankee loss. He went on to tell me Mariano Rivera was too old and was done. This turned into a semi-war of words. He came damn close to being "unfriended"

Of course, when Mo came and earned two saves back to back, I was quick to post a general comment about how those who thought Mariano was finished were WRONG. I have yet to hear back from my friend (color me surprised).

By Sunday night my stomach twisted at the thought of having to go to work on Monday. I am surrounded in my office by Mets fans (who of course won their first three games). Luckily, only one person twisted the knife ever so slightly. I got off relatively easy.

My rule of thumb when it comes to team bashing - I don't do it. I am superstitious and every "your team sucks comment" could lead to bad karma for my guys. That is, unless YOU start the trash talk and then it's on. Poke me with a stick and I will hit you with a branch. I'm a Scorpio and that's just how we roll - especially me when it comes to MY Yankees.

BASEBALL SEASON OFFICALLY BEGINS - OZZIE, CHICKEN LITTLE AND YU MUST BE KIDDING

Well here it is - the first week of the baseball season completed and what a week it was.

Ozzie Guillen, manager of the Miami Marlins, told Time Magazine that he loves Fidel Castro. He goes on to say that you have to admire Castro for remaining in power for so long. Apparently, Ozzie does not understand how a dictatorship works. However the Cuban population, especially those exiled and now living in Miami, do. Ozzie also recently said he gets drunk after every game - win or lose. And apparently before interviews with Time Magazine as well. One has to wonder if he thought baseball fans don't read Time. He found out quickly, they do. The Marlins have suspended Ozzie for 5 games and he flew back to Miami and apologized to everyone. Hopefully that didn't include Castro.

The Yankees lost their first three games to Tampa Bay. The first loss came at the hands of a blown save by Mariano Rivera. The Chicken Littles of baseball came out in droves. The Yankee sky must falling and Mo and the Yankees for sure are done, they said. New York hadn't seen this kind of panic since 1929 and we all know how that turned out. When was the last time the Yankees lost the first three games of the season? Well, it just so happens it was 1998. That year the Yankees went on to win 114 games and the World Series. Not bad odds. Thankfully they won the 4th game. Because honestly, I was out of positive statistics.

We had our first look at Chris Stewart, the catcher the Yankees traded for and who replaced Francisco Cervelli, as the back up to Russell Martin. His stats read as follows: Since his MLB debut in 2006 he has played in 94 games with 212 at bats. In those 212 at bats, he has 13 RBIs and 3 HRs. My question is - whose nephew is he? No wonder Cervelli was upset having to back down to the minors. It was for a guy who basically sucks. Next time Cashman should just pick a seat number and the person who it belongs to will be your catcher. They would probably do just as well and cost much less.

Yu Davish made his first major league start in the majors for the Texas Rangers. He cost Nolan Ryan and friends over $100M ($50m to Japan and $60M over 6 years to Yu). What does one get for $100M these days? A guy who gave up 5 runs in 8 hits over 5 plus innings. If I paid $100M, of which $50M was upfront, for a pitcher, he should be so good that every batter would walk away from the plate wondering if the guy ever actually threw the ball. Nolan should put a hold on the check for the time being.

The NY Mets are 4-0 to start their season. Maybe the Miyans ARE right.

Lastly, a marvelous book came out this week. "Driving Mr. Yogi" by Harvey Araton about the special relationship between Yogi Berra and former Yankee pitcher Ron Guidry. If you are a Yankee fan, I promise this book will not disappoint.

Only 158 games left of the season - Go Yankees!

NICK ADENHART: GONE TOO SOON

On the morning of Wednesday, April 8, 2009 Nick Adenhart was preparing to pitch in a major league game for the Los Angeles Angels against the Oakland A's.  His first start since the previous season where he struggled and was sent back down to the minors. The road to get to this moment was somewhat long for this young 22 year old.  He had already had elbow surgery after being drafted in 2004, he was trying to find control of his pitches, so he worked in the winter following the 2008 season, and he looked and felt good coming into 2009 spring training.  So, tonight was his big chance due to another starter going on the DL.  His father, Jim had flown out from Baltimore to watch the game at Nick's request.  "Something special is going to happen" Nick said to his dad when he asked him to attend the game. 

Nick was right.  He threw 6 scoreless inning and left with a 4-0 lead.  Unfortunately, the Angels lost the game; but Nick had proven he had big league stuff.  After he pitched his last inning, Angels manager, Mike Scioscia, patted him the back.  His pitching coach Mike Butcher went over a few things but overall was really pleased with Nick's outing.  Nick was elated and finally felt like a true major leaguer.  His father said that Nick was walking on air as they parted ways, Nick going out with some friends and his dad returning to his hotel.

Nick was popular in the clubhouse.  Although he had only been there a short time, he made friends easily.  He was notorious for being able to imitate any voice, and was known for having a love of all kinds of music, even suggesting at bat songs for a few of the older players.  He had a smile that lit up a room. 

Sadly, April 8, 2009 would be Nick's final game.  Shortly after midnight April 9th, Nick and three others were broadsided by a drunk driver who went through a red light and hit the the car Nick was in at a high speed, pushing it into a telephone pole.  The driver, Courtney Stewart and passenger Henry Pearson were killed instantly.  Nick and the fourth passenger, Jon Wilhite, were rushed to the local hospital.  Jon Wilhite survived; but Nick Adenhart died as a result of his injuries.  He was only 22 years old.

The Angels mourned the loss of their young player.  The team canceled the Thursday game against Oakland and the players returned home that afternoon.  Nick's dad asked to come to the stadium.  He walked around the field and stood on the pitcher's mound.  He went to the clubhouse and sat in front of Nick's locker.  The players ached for the elder Adenhart.  What do you say to man who has lost his only child?  Jim Adenhart spoke to the team and coaches, thanking them for taking care of his young boy during his short time in the majors.  There was not a dry eye in that room. 

I saw that game Nick pitched that night.  It happen to be a game the MLB network broadcast.  I remember thinking this kid was good.  I was shocked to find out the next morning he was gone.  I have always felt that the fans are a part of baseball's tight knit family.  Without fans, there is no baseball.  So, when Nick was killed, it was like a distant relative had died.  One maybe you had never met but realized after they were gone, how special they were. 

Today, Easter Sunday, is the three year anniversary of that special game Nick Adenhart pitched.  I like to remember the young pitcher coming into his own, rather than how he died. 

Is there a message in this story?  Several.  But you don't need me to tell you what they are.  The purpose of this was solely to remember Nick Adenhart, a talented young man who was gone too soon.

Nicholas James Adenhart (August 24, 1986 – April 9, 2009)