What Went Wrong?

Yankees Go Home and Revamp

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 20- Disaster could be harsh describing the disappointing and worst performance in a post season for the New York Yankees. However, in baseball history, this was an all-time low in the post season for a team in baseball. It hurts, stings, and will be an everlasting memory of the 2012 New York Yankees.

Before it can be analyzed, as to what has to be done to make it better, this for the $200 million team of failure, answer what went wrong? And were the Yankees built as a team to hit the home run with failure to realize that good pitching in the post season will prevent the home run ball?

The Yankees obviously realize that hitting a team record and Major League Baseball record, 245 home runs will not deliver a world championship. Success to the Yankees is always reaching and winning the World Series, and if they want to win their 28^th and first since 2009, they must have a better plan to get by a first or second round post season series.

Winning the divisional title is an accomplishment. But a fan of the New York Yankees, more so, management, is not content unless another championship flag is flying high at 161^st Street and River Avenue. It does not matter that they won an American League high 95 games, second in baseball to the Washington Nationals who also went home early.

But the Nationals, who did not spend nearly as much money, were not expected to exceed expectations so soon. The Yankee were a different story

“We fell short of our singular and constant goal, which is a World Series championship,” said Hal Steinbrenner the Yankees’ managing general partner in a statement Friday afternoon. “Make no mistake this was a bitter end to our year.”

He went on to say, “We fully intend to examine our season in its totality, assess all our strengths and weaknesses and take the necessary steps needed to maintain our sole focus of winning the World Series in 2013.”

The son of the late George Steinbrenner is not like his father. Had George been in charge, heads would have been rolling and changes would have been implemented immediately.

However, this is a new hierarchy running the New York Yankees, and one or two changes will be made, not as fast and much differently the way “The Boss” used to do it.

Yankees fans should not expect much change from what they saw on the field in the eight games of a post season, one that fell short after defeating Baltimore and losing to the American League Champion Detroit Tigers that swept New York in four games.

To begin, the payroll has been projected to be significantly lower, not in 2013 but the year after. The goal is to get the best out of what they have because of contracts with incentives and options.

This same nucleus of players that combined for record post season lowest batting average of .188 will go home, and many are expected to return to Tampa Florida when spring training convenes in February.

Is this what the fans want, no, but the Yankees may have no other options. Because in this era of the player contract, the Yankees organization has been accustomed to spend and sign the long term deal and complicated options.

Since that final out in Detroit Thursday, manager Joe Girardi, the General Manger Brian Cashman, and baseball people in the know, are baffled and perplexed as to what went wrong with Robinson Cano. His .075 batting average, 3-for 40, in the post season are hard to explain after hitting over .600 the final five weeks of the season.

The absence of Derek Jeter, who will recover from a broken ankle and surgery, did not make a difference. The Yankees scored three runs in the 39 innings played in four games with the Tigers.

In the end it was a team failure, except for a pitching staff that finished with a post season ERA a little of 2.00, and that was supposed to be the question mark in a short series.    

Girardi said, “It wasn’t one guy. It wasn’t two guys. It was a bunch of guys.”

A bunch with questions for next year, and maybe the years ahead as the Yankees are not getting younger. Jeter will be 39- years old, and do they bring back a veteran 40-year Andy Pettitte who returned after a brief retirement and will make the decision for 2013 to be on a veteran pitching staff?

It was a season of adversity, dealing with injuries and losing a 10-game lead to the Oriole s in the AL east. The lack of scoring runs was a season issue, with an occasional streak of the Yankees bats at times living up to expectations.

But in the end, adversity was with the Yankees failure to hit and drive in runs. Again, there is no answer as to how a team with so much ability to drive in runs failed to do so. Hitting is contagious, and the Yankees defined that definition.

Curtis Granderson and a 43- home run season means nothing with 16 strikeouts and going 3-for-30 at the plate in the playoffs. Do the Yankees re-sign Nick Swisher with three runs batted in and a .167 average in eight games? Do they bring back catcher Russell Martin with his one RBI and .161 average, and Eric Chavez coming off the bench and starting, going 0-for-16?

Some of the many issues facing Cashman will make this an interesting Yankees off season. He reportedly will take a few days off and return to his office at Yankee Stadium Monday, starting the many hours of a long process to get it right.

But, the major issue is Alex Rodriguez and his $114 million contract that includes incentives for another five years. One season, the championship year of 2009, is the lone one that stands out with the ten-year $250 million investment the Yankees made.

Girardi benched the slumping A-Rod in games three and four of the Tigers’ series, a move made because Rodriguez could not make contact with his .111 post season average and 12 strike outs. The denials still stand that he was punished for throwing a baseball with his phone number to a bikini model by the Yankees dugout as he took a seat for Raul Ibanez.

Rodriguez became a story of the New York Yankees 2012 post season.

Yes, there are tons of issues with the New York Yankees that goes along with a fan base that would rather see Rodriguez playing elsewhere next year. No team in their right frame of mind would want to take on a contract of his magnitude.

He is a player that obviously is on the decline who has difficulty handling a fastball. Girardi says everything is fine with him and his third baseman and believes the swagger will return with A-Rod’s bat.

Nothing is fine though with the New York Yankees, when they are not playing baseball deep in October. And to fix that will be the question for the next few months.

How to do it, that is another question that will take time to answer.

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com and listen and watch Rich Thursday evening live 8-10pm www.inthemixxradio.com also on your phone apps.

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Riverdale News: The Good, The Bad & the Zombies

Riverdale News: The Good, The Bad  & the Zombies: (Photos by Robert Press and Ken Carozza) Comic Con 2012 – Review By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15...

The Good, The Bad & the Zombies

(Photos by Robert Press and Ken Carozza)

Comic Con 2012 – Review

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15- If you did not attend the sold out Comic Con 2012 here is just a little recap of what you missed. 

As soon as you got near the Javits Center you entered another dimension. A dimension of comic characters coming to life as many Comic Con 2012 attendees were dressed as their favorite comic characters for the daily costume contest. There were the usual Supermen & Supergirls, Batmen & Robins, Vampires & Zombies, many of the new comic characters, and even characters that were made up that people might want to see. When I asked some people why they came in their outfits, the answer was “This is the only time other than Halloween that I can dress up like this”.

While there were dozens and dozens of booths selling comics going back to first issues of almost any and every comic book printed, and artists signing and posing for pictures. Comic Con 2012 was more than just comics. There were “Spotlight Comic Guests”, “Featured Comic Guests” “Spotlight Entertainment Guests”, (such as Adam West T.V.'s 

original Batman, Julianne Moore of Carrie, Kevin Bacon of the Following, Vanessa Williams of 666 Park Avenue, Christopher Lloyd of Back to the Future fame, Lou Ferrigno of the Hulk fame, WWE star Booker T, and Divas Kelly Kelly and the Bella Twins Brie and Nikki, and former boxer/wrestler Butterbean to name only a few. Each day was a different line up of stars and characters.

I went Friday and went back on Sunday to the Javits center for “Kids Day”. Sunday was the most crowded as line waits were about one half an hour or more at several “hot” booths. On Sunday three stars of wrestling Tito Santana, Brutis “The Barber” Beefcake, and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, were taking photos with the attendees. Greg Valentine appeared in April at St. Francis Xavier “Wrestling Night” event in the Morris Park area of the Bronx. Also with a Bronx connection was Gregory Lamberson author of the “FRENZY WAR”, who with his Bronx partner Marc Makowski made the “SLIME CITY” cult film series of movies.

You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see photos of Comic Con 2012 for Friday and Sunday at posts that are sandwiched around the Liberty Democratic Club 5th Annual Award Dinnerand post. Check the archive section for other items that were related to Comic Con 2012. People who attended Comic Con 2012 said that they can not wait for Comic Con 2013.

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Vote of No Confidence For CB 8 Chairman

Riverdale Report

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 17- It appears that current Community Board # 8 Chairman Robert Fanuzzi has lost not only control of CB 8, but also the support of a majority of the boards members. 

During the Economic Development Committee, report an issue came up about the proposed street festival on Riverdale Avenue for the date of December 2^nd. In discussing the festival the head of the committee made a motion for the approval and support of the full board of the street festival. An issue of an amendment to the motion came up where as the chairman of the board Mr. Fanuzzi ruled that the amendment was out of order. The ruling was then challenged by the Chair of the Law and Ethics Committee and put to a vote of the full board. The result of the full board vote was that the members voted to overrule Chairman Fanuzzi on his ruling, and things went downhill again for the second straight month. CB 8 Chairman Fanuzzi refused to recognize several board members and ruled them out of order when they tried to speak. Fanuzzi however did recognize one member who then made a motion to table the whole matter, which passed.

Chairman Fanuzzi also allowed that same member to continue on with a tirade on another member without attempting to stop it or rule it out of order until the tirade was over.

In doing some research the Street Activity Permit process has changed as of December 2011, and apparently Fanuzzi was trying to push something through that he knew or should have known was wrong. In the past 125 signatures from the neighborhood had to be collected to show support for an event, and then the community board chair or District Manager could just sign off on these street permits. The permit process now needs review by the full community board. One would have to assume that since over 125 signatures were collected and presented at the Economic Development Committee meeting. CB 8 Chairman Fanuzzi must have wanted to keep this quiet since the Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corporation was involved in the application process, and announced 11^th City Council candidate Cliff Stanton is the Treasurer of KRVDC. Since Riverdale Avenue is a major street and emergency route this should have been taken up in the Traffic and Transportation Committee.

This was the case last month when CB 8 Chairman Fanuzzi had appointed a Youth Committee Chair over the summer that was struck down when it finally became known that the agreement between Community Board 8 and the Department of Youth Services became voided in 1996 (over 12 years ago) when the Department of Youth Services was merged into the Department of Youth and Community Development that also deals with matters other than just youth issues. Fanuzzi had the board appoint a special committee of four members of his choosing (which included himself) to come up with an interim youth committee and by-law change.

Also made know by the Treasurer of Community Board 8 was the fact that Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed first round of budget cuts would leave CB 8 in a defect of several thousands of dollars over the allocations of two of the three council members who cover CB 8. With the budget cuts to other areas in their districts these two council members may also have to stop their generosity to CB 8. Several years ago, CB 8 had to let go of one of its excellent staffers in a budget cut since the current District Manager of CB 8 was hired at one of (if not the) highest pay scales in the city. The previous DM worked part time hours with additional staff members, and CB 8 may be forced to let go or cut back on the two remaining staff members or the District Manager of the board.

If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.

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Blown Call

More than a blown call that has the Yankees against the wall as they leave for Detroit down, 2-0

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15- Cleary it was a blown call that was unacceptable in the Tigers eighth inning at Yankee Stadium Sunday in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. Robinson Cano, in his own slump could not change it and neither could Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

But the call with two outs, that led to a two- run Detroit Tigers inning leads to questions about expanding the instant replay rule in baseball, and the continuing failure of the Yankees to hit and score runs.

Replay is another issue that may have to eventually be dealt with. For now, as the Yankees head to Detroit, trailing 2-0 in the best of seven series, their backs are against the wall and Girardi may be out of answers.

There is no telling what the result would have been had the Cano call at second to get Omar Infante went differently. With the Yankees bats going sour at the wrong time, that comeback seen so often in the Bronx during that four-time championship reign has been a futility.

But that call also opened the door for two more Tigers runs. And a one-run game may have been easier for the Yankees to overcome in the eighth inning than trailing by three.

“We have to make adjustments,” said Girardi about his team with a .205 batting average in seven post season games with the Baltimore Orioles and Tigers. “We are more than capable of scoring runs. We have done it before.”

It may mean Girardi sits Nick Swisher and his four hits in 26 at bats, along with eight strikeouts in the post season. Cano, batting .083 is hard to comprehend. However, this was a continuing problem for the Yankees the entire season with a few spurts of enthusiasm coming from their bats in late August and September.

“There is nothing you can do but keep your approach,” commented Cano who batted at a .615 clip at the end of the season. The funk now has him hitless in 26 at bats in the post season, whether or not he is hitting the ball and not getting the hit.

STUNNED!

Yanks Shut Out by Tigers; Fall to 0-2 in ALCS

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15- The Yanks now have their work cut out for them after being shut out by the Tigers, 3-0, to fall to 0-2 in the ALCS. The two teams will now travel to Detroit to play games three and four and, if necessary, game five. If the Yankees fail to win two of the three, their season will end. If they manage the near impossible task on the road, the two clubs will return to the Bronx to play game seven in Yankee Stadium next Saturday night.

As most of the post-season contests in which the Yankees have played this year, the starting pitchers easily handled the opposing hitters they faced. Hiroki Kuroda pitched with short rest, three days between starts, for the first time in his career in the majors.

The hurler from Japan must not have found the effort too taxing as he retired the first 15 Tiger batters. He fanned seven of the first nine he faced. Jhonny Peralta’s single to lead off the sixth ended Kuroda’s bid for a perfect game and no-hitter.

The first run of the game was scored in the top of the seventh. Quinton Berry doubled and crossed the plate after a single to right by Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera.

After striking out two batters to begin the eighth, four straight singles and a walk led to two runs. Kuroda left the game after 7.2 innings with 11 K’s and five hits. Although all three runs scored were allotted to Kuroda, relief pitchers Boone Logan and Joba Chamberlain each yielded a single that drove in a run.

Starter Anibal Sanchez and those who followed him to the mound collectively kept the Yanks scoreless. The righty gave up three scattered hits in seven frames. Mark Teixeira doubled with two out in the first. Nick Swisher singled with two gone in the second. Raúl Ibañez led off the fourth with a single.

The only other base hit for the Yanks was a single with two out in the ninth.

Detroit’s veteran skipper Jim Leyland commented on the two starters, “I think that both starting pitchers were absolutely terrific.”

According to the batting of the Yanks in the post-season, the name Bronx Bombers is outdated. Although Alex Rodriguez has received the brunt of the jeers from the fans in attendance for obtaining 3 hits in 23 at bats including 12 strikeouts without a run batted in the first seven post-season games, he is not alone in lack of success.

Robinson Cano has two hits in 32 at bats. He has been without a hit in his last 26 at bats, a single post-season record. Nick Swisher has four hits in 26 at bats. In 26 at bats, Curtis granderson has hit safely on three times. He has fanned 13 times. Russell Martin has hit safely five times in 26 ay bats. Eric Chavez has yet to get a hit in 11 times at bat.

The Yanks and Tigers will move to Comerica Park in Detroit for the next two or three games, depending on whether or not the Tigers can sweep the series. The difficulty will be intensified by the absence of Yankees captain Derek Jeter. The injured shortstop was batting .333 in the 2012 post-season.

To make matters worse, Tiger ace Justin Verlander will start in game #3 against Phil Hughes.

Jeter is Done for the Season!

Yankees say they will move on

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 14- Now the question is can the New York Yankees survive and win their ALCS series with the Detroit Tigers with the loss of their captain Derek Jeter? It is an answer the Yankees will have to answer on the field with game two in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium Sunday afternoon.

The Yankees say they will move on, the same way they did when all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera went down for the season with a freak torn knee injury earlier this season. It has been a season of adversity, injuries to a pitching staff and position player at one time or another.

But this is Jeter, the captain, and he is hard to replace. Jayson Nix will replace Jeter at shortstop and Eduardo Nunez was added to the roster. The manager, Joe Girardi knows this is the most difficult dilemma to deal with as the Yankees try to even the series Sunday before heading to Detroit for what is hoped to be three more games.

“Just like Mo said, ‘we have to move on,’” commented Yankees manager Joe Girardi when asked about the impact on losing Jeter, the reference to what Rivera said to the team when he went down with his injury back on May 3^rd shagging fly balls in the outfield at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City.

But it is hard to move on without a player like Jeter, especially this time of year as the Yankees try to move another step to their 28^th world championship.

“Is it a big loss? Yes,” said Yankees General Manger Brian Cashman. “Is it something that’s going to stop us from dreaming about achieving our goal, no,” he said.

And perhaps the loss of Jeter won’t stop their goal. But Nix is not Jeter on the field, neither is Nunez. Girardi was asked about possibly utilizing the slumping Alex Rodriguez at short. “No I wouldn’t do that,” he said. “It’s just been too long.”

To hear Cashman say that Jeter will “No longer be a player for us this year,” is hard to comprehend but a broken ankle, that will take three months to recover, is that huge loss for the Yankees and perhaps for the game of baseball. They said Jeter will be well enough to be ready for spring training in February.

In the second inning, Jeter got his 200^th career post season hit with a single. Later, in that 12^th inning, when things fell apart for the Yankees, he made that play ranging toward second base, one that he has done so well over the years.

This time, he had to be helped off the field. And many of the 47,122 who remained on a long Saturday night, into a Sunday morning of baseball were silent. The captain was down and told Girardi, “No, don’t carry me.”

They chanted “Derek Jeter, Derek Jeter.” He heard them. And his teammates consoled him as he was helped to be immediately examined. That left ankle, that has been hindered one way or another this season could no longer take the punishment of wear and tear, though this fracture reportedly was in a different area.

Now without their captain, the Yankees will have to do this, themselves. Not that Jeter has been banging the ball all over the field, but he always seems to ignite a rally, get on base, and make the big play.  Five championship rings in the same uniform are enough to state the value of Derek Jeter, especially in October.

Jeter did not have a reaction when he was examined and told by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad that he could no longer play. He was in the same room with Cashman, Joe Torre, his former manager who he played for on four world championship teams, Reggie Jackson, and former teammate Tino Martinez.

Twice with two-run home runs in the ninth inning, including one from Raul Ibanez, maybe the new “Mr. October” off Joe Valverde, it appeared this was going to be another one of those great October nights in the Bronx when the Yankees tied the important first game in a best of seven series.

However, the loss of Jeter now makes it that more difficult for the New York Yankees. They say the loss of their captain will be overcome. They will play for Jeter and are inspired to win that championship for their leader.

“It’s a tough moment for all of us because of what he means to our team,” said Ibanez.

And an obstacle that Cashman and the Yankees will know how to deal with in this season of adversity that continues at the most important time of October baseball.

“The job is to overcome every obstacle that comes our way,” said Cashman. “We have one team standing in our way to get to the World Series.” And one player short of that goal, the most important part of their quest to get there again.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

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