Mickey Mantle had a great season in 1960. He won the American League with 40 home runs. He also scored the most runs with 119 and led the league with a .687 OPS. But in 1960, the experts criticized Mantle because he batted only .275. It was the first time that he had produced such a low batting average since his rookie season. Roger Maris, who finished one home run behind Mantle, batted .283. Bill Skowron, who finished with 26 home runs, hit .309. Hector Lopez batted .284. Mantle finished ...
The MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching and it's become the norm that each year the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will both be gunning for the same top players on the market.But in 2012, a different scenario presents itself that could change all that.Let's take a look at why the Yanks and Red Sox won't be competing for the same trade targets this season.Begin Slideshow
With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, we've all speculated as to what the Yankees will do.By the time July 31 rolls around, the rumors are so rampant and furious it's hard to keep up.The Yankees would prefer not to make a trade if general manager Brian Cashman can help it. If it were up to him, he'd keep the team as is and go into the second half with what they have.But with injuries to Brett Gardner and Andy Pettitte, it could change Cashman's stance on the ...
Though the New York Yankees have shown more recent interest in pursuing an outfielder before baseball's July 31 trade deadline, it's generally presumed that general manager Brian Cashman will try to add a starting pitcher for the late-season playoff run.Cole Hamels and Zack Greinke are among the big names presumably available. But each pitcher is going to cost a load of top prospects, and Cashman might not want to pay that price. Another arm that's available—one the Yankees were linked to in trade rumors last year—is Houston Astros left-hander Wandy ...
The New York Yankees sure didn't expect their scorching start to the summer to end in a June swoon. CC Sabathia went on the disabled list on June 27th with a strained groin, and Andy Pettitte, who was knocked out of the Yankees game on the same day when a batted ball hit his leg and broke his fibula, joined him later in the afternoon. But these days, nothing can stop the Yankees. Sabathia returned on Tuesday night and did so in dominating fashion, firing six shutout innings to blank the Toronto Blue Jays.Still, these key injuries may ...
If you told me during Spring Training that the Yankees would own baseball’s best record and the largest divisional lead through 91 games, I would have had my reasonable doubts. If you told me this would be the case despite suffering significant injuries to their top two starters, their starting center fielder and three key relievers, I would have one response. You’re crazy. But here we are in the middle of July, and New York holds a 10-game lead in what many believe to be the toughest division in baseball. ...
I watched Mickey Mantle's complete career. After having a fairly poor season in his rookie season of 1951, Mantle had some very good seasons. Then it happened.It 1956, Mantle reached what most thought was the apex. He won the Triple Crown and became the best player in the game. The next season, in 1957, Mantle did well, batting .365. In 1958, he hit "only" .304, but he led the league with 42 home runs.Then he had a bad season, at least it seemed to be an off-season, in 1959. After ...
Derek Jeter currently has 3,207 hits (and counting) in his 17-year Yankee career. Jeter is 38 years old and just 793 hits away from joining Ty Cobb and Pete Rose as the only players ever to break 4,000 hits.It might seem stupid to think a 38-year-old can get 800 more hits in his career, but Derek Jeter is a lot farther away from retirement than it might have seemed last year.At Jeter's current pace (barring any injuries), he is collecting about 200 hits a season and is on pace for ...
Let's cut to the chase: The only team standing between the New York Yankees and the World Series is the Texas Rangers.And if the Yankees are going to defeat the two-time defending American League champions when they meet in the ACLS, then Andy Pettitte and Brett Gardner have to be healthy and contributing.No disrespect to the Los Angeles Angels or any other AL teams that make the playoffs, but the Yankees and Rangers are the best all-around teams in baseball with solid starting rotations, shutdown bullpens and imposing starting lineups. Difficult ...
Rafael Soriano was not the Yankees first choice—or second choice—to close games this season in the Bronx, but he's sure become their savior in the bullpen. The enigmatic veteran from the Dominican Republic has been lights out since taking over the closer role.Thanks to a season-ending injury to all-galaxy closer, Mariano Rivera, and a multi-week disabled list stint for Dave Robertson, Soriano has become the top man in the Yankees bullpen. He's also back to being one of the best relievers in the game.Soriano has saved 24 of his 25 ...