The Bronx Sports Column (New to BxNN!)

Our ace photographer, Adi Talwar, took these photos at DeWitt Clinton's thrilling 60-56 victory over down-the-street northwest borough rival Bronx Science, on Wednesday afternoon at Bronx Science's home gym. The loss put Science into a tie with Walton Campus for first place in the Bronx A West Division. Both teams are 12-6 this year.

For Clinton, the victory was huge. At 11-7, they are within one game of first, with two to play. Meanwhile, Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy pulled within two games of the top spot in the divsion, at 10-8. Should be an exciting final week of games.

In the Bronx A East Division race, Christopher Columbus (17-1), holds a two-game lead over Alfred E. Smith and South Bronx high schools, both sit at 15-3.

In other Bronx-related sports news, Yankees workhorse starter Andy Pettite called it quits today, retiring from baseball after 16 seasons, 13 with the Bronx Bombers. Here's Pettite at his press conference earlier today.

Also, several Fordham University athletes will be inducted into the school's sports Hall of Fame tomorrow, including swimmer/diver Mollie Welsh Kruger (they spelled her name wrong in the Fordham press release, which we linked to), who now lives in Woodlawn with her husband John and daughter Olivia. Congrats to Kruger and all the inductees.

Here's a quote from Kruger's friend and BxNN reader Jack Marth: "It's about time! As a proud graduate of Fordham, I've watched for years how Mollie's accomplishments remained on the Fordham record books-- but no induction into the HoF. My children took swim lessons at Fordham over the last dozen years or so, and they would note with pride how their friend's records were still on display on the board at the Fordham pool. At the same time they would also wonder why she did not have a HOF plaque in the hallway leading into the pool."

This being our first "Bronx Sports Column," which we'll be making a regular Friday feature on BxNN, I'm really looking for help from you, our valued readers, in finding out what kind of sports-related conent we should be writing about and you want to hear about. There seems to be a ton of Yankees coverage out there, but if you want more, we'll give it to you. How about more high school action? Little League anyone? Should we focus on the many college teams in the borough? Also, if you have a better name than "Bronx Sports Column," this is completely up for review and may be changed at any time. 

We won't be able to cover it all, but we'll do our best.

Anyway, please leave your suggestions in the comments section below or email me at akratz@norwoodnews.org.

The Yankees, Unobstructed - Oct. 30, 2009

Forget About Having a Fourth Starter

This World Series, more than any in recent memory, looks like it could be shaped by pregame managerial decisions. Last night, the Yankees scored a key run following a rally that was started by Jerry Hairston, Jr. — who Joe Girardi inserted into the lineup in place of the slumping Nick Swisher.

Now Girardi has bigger decisions to make. While the Phillies look prepared to start a scrub in Game 5 (either Joe Blanton or J.A. Happ), Girardi has been wrestling with whether or not to pitch Chad Gaudin (who has thrown one inning since October 3rd).

But there is another option, which I think Girardi might resort to — a three man rotation.

While it has become a forgone conclusion that the Yankees will pitch C.C. Sabathia in games four and seven, the silencing of Yankees bats over the last two games makes a strong case for using the best pitchers available at all times. We don't know what to expect from Gaudin, because baseball-reference.com does not keep records for "starting on 30 days rest." It does, however, keep track of starts on three days rest....

A.J. Burnett has made four such starts, including three in 2008. In all four he has pitched very well. In fact, in his three short-rest starts in 2008, Burnett gave up only four earned runs in 19.1 innings. His 18/10 K/BB ratio in those starts is not incredible, but is on par with his usual numbers.

Andy Pettitte is 37 years old, but he also has the most postseason wins of any pitcher ever. Pettitte's numbers are less impressive on short rest than Burnett's, but also more extensive. In 86.2 innings pitched, Pettitte has surrendered 40 earned runs. Not great, but certainly good enough to keep the Yankees in the game.

In other tough choices for Girardi has to make...

Hideki Matsui: Godzilla has been one of the Yankees better hitters this postseason, but he is too slow to track down fly balls. While playing in a National League park, make him your #1 pinch hitter.

Nick Swisher: Although his replacement, Jerry Hairston, Jr., came up big last night, Swisher's defense and arm have helped limit scoring opportunities for opponents all postseason. Swisher plays.

Phil Hughes: No more set-up work. Relief pitching is all about having the hot hand, and Hughes' couldn't be colder. Instead go with...

David Robertson: Seriously, I'm not kidding. Robertson has been lights out — downright unflappable — in some of the most pressure-filled moments of the past month. The kid is catching batters off-guard. He's like a vision of rookie K-ROD.

In case you have not been following. Here's a few details you need to know in order to get by in a conversation about the World Series:

After two games in the Bronx, the series is tied 1-1. The next game is tomorrow night at 7:57pm in Philadelphia. The starters will be Andy Pettitte for the Yankees, and Cole Hamels for the Phillies.

The Yankees, Unobstructed- September 18

The Yankees have the best record in baseball, they lead their division by seven games and they have the second highest run differential in the majors. They also have big problems that can really hamper their postseason run.

With the exclusion of C.C. Sabathia, the Yankees starting rotation has become a hodge-podge of inconsistent (and consistently poor) hurlers.

Consider:

Andy Pettitte — His 4.35 era over the last month is not bad, but the eight walks that Pettitte has surrendered in his last 11 innings points to an emerging control issue. His sore shoulder is also a cause for concern.

A.J. Burnett — Sporting an unseemly 7.67 era and 1.53 whip, Burnett has had trouble keeping the ball in the park. He has given up two or more home runs in three of his last five starts.

Since July, 27, Burnett has gone 1-5, with two no decisions.

Joba Chamberlain — It's hard to make judgements about Joba. He certainly has not been good. For the last month his era is 7.41 and his whip is 1.88. On the other hand, in his last seven innings (two starts) Chamberlain has walked only one batter, while striking out five. It's tough to gauge Joba because the Yankees have not allowed him to pitch five innings in a game since August 16.

The upcoming schedule

The next ten days are chock full of playoff-preview type baseball. The past month can be forgotten if Yankees starters can shut down the Angels and Red Sox next week (two potential American League Championship foes).


NOTE: Make sure to check back on Fridays for The Yankees, Unobstructed, BNN's weekly Yankees opinion column.

For more of Graham Kates' sports writing, check out his True/Slant blog "Coaches in the Crosshairs" (http://trueslant.com/grahamkates).

The Yankees, Unobstructed August 7

Yankee Fans Collectively Exhale

A baseball season is long and all 162 games are of equivalent value....but didn't last night's game feel great? I know, I know, a game is a game and teams rarely actually "need" to win one in early August, but yesterday's victory sure felt important. If it wasn't a big deal for the players (which is doubtful considering the competitive nature of professional athletes), then it certainly was for the fans. Consider today's headlines....

"Blast from the Past: Just like old times as Yankees snap 0-fer vs. Red Sox" - Daily News
"Bombs Away: Yanks finally crush Sox" - NY Post
"Yanks' First Win Against Boston is a Big One" - NY Times
"Yankees Fans Saved From Having to Endure More Annoying Self-Congratulatory Facebook Status Messages by Friends from New England" - Me

While getting over that "winning one" hump was terrific, the harsh reality of weighted scheduling is that the Yankees and Red Sox still have nine more games to play against each other (exactly 1/6 of their remaining games).

If the Yankees can just eek out four or five of those nine they will be in fine shape to win the division, because they are a much more consistent squad against the rest of baseball than the Sox are. The Red Sox are 62-45 right now. Against the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles, the Sox are 19-3. Which means against everyone else, they are just one game above .500.

This weekend's three remaining games....

Tonight: The Yankees' toughest pitching match-up comes tonight. The Red Sox are throwing perennial Cy Young contender Josh Beckett. While Beckett has not been great against the Yankees in two starts this year, he has the potential to be masterful any day. Also, A.J. Burnett, our starter, was absolutely demolished in early Yankee-Red Sox action. While Burnett has been pitching very well lately, the Red Sox figure to still cause him issues. His best games are when he keeps his pitches down, and Boston is an extremely adept low-ball hitting offense.

Tomorrow: This should be our easy win. Boston is pitching Clay Bucholz of "flash-in-a-pan" fame, and we've got the big man, C.C. Sabathia. There is no excuse for losing tomorrow. None.

Sunday: With Andy Pettitte facing Jon Lester, all we can do is hope. Pettitte has been much more reliable since the All-Star break, but he still hates pitching at the new Stadium (and the new Stadium hates him). Meanwhile, Lester has produced 11 Quality Starts since May 21.

NOTE: Make sure to check back every Wednesday for Pinstripe Politics, your source for that gray area where the Yankees and society converge. Also, check in with the BNN on Fridays for The Yankees, Unobstructed, our weekly Yankee opinion column.

For more of Graham Kates' sports writing, check out his True/Slant blog "Coaches in the Crosshairs" (www.trueslant.com/grahamkates).