30-year old Jordon Mattingly, son of Yankees' legend Don Mattingly, crashed his car while driving drunk this weekend, and proceeded to try to sell it soon after.
At six foot-six, with long blonde hair flowing from his hat, he almost looked mythical on the pitcher's mound. For six years the New York Mets had hoped that the player nicknamed "Thor" would be hammering opposing batters with his 100 mph fastball. The mythical character came to life on multiple occasions for Noah Syndergaard and the Mets, just not enough to keep the towering right-hander in Queens, NY. Tuesday night, the Yankees showed the Mets why they didn't lose much.
What happened in the Tops Supermarket in Buffalo on May 14th is an unthinkable tragedy brought on by hate. Fast forward 10 days later, another unthinkable tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. Mass murder in the United States is becoming routine. On Thursday, the first-place New York Yankees teamed-up on the issue with the second place Tampa Bay Rays prior to the first game of their four game series.
In 44 games, the 2022 New York Yankees have played the Baltimore Orioles 13 times and after last night, are 9-4 against them. So, for the next 118 games, the Pinstripes and the O's will only face off another 6 times. Good for Baltimore bad for the Bombers. Thursday, the Yankees and their most dominant opponent in the American League East over the past few years, the Tampa Bay Rays, will face-off in the first of 19 battles this season.
In a tell-all interview, former Yankees' pitcher David Wells explained how he went from a Saturday Night Live cast party to pitching a perfect game in 24 hours.
Tuesday night was a tough time to focus for anyone with the unthinkable horror in Texas, especially if you are from within 100 miles of the tragedy. Then add in that it is your late father's birthday and you play Major League baseball for his favorite team. Top it all off with your first place team has lost 4 out of 5 of their last games, which is irrelevant in comparison to the nightmare in the first sentence.
Aaron Boone and the New York Yankees would rather forget this past weekend. Yes, losing two of three to a team that you handled at their place last weekend stinks. But, that certainly wasn't the worst of it for the Yankees manager. When your weekend is filled with questions about your team involving Tommy John surgery, struggling closer, blown saves and a racial comment, it's easy to forget that you have a 5 game lead in the American League East.
Yankee Stadium is packed with thousands of screaming fans for every New York Yankees' home game, and every now and then, a big celebrity will cheer them on, too.
Some people take advantage opportunities. Some throw them away. Short-sighted players in minor league baseball are certainly in the minority. 99.5% of the baseball prospects on minor league rosters have hopes and dreams of getting to the big leagues.
New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman has allowed runs in four straight appearances. Projected 8th inning set-up man, Jonathan Loáisiga has pitched better of late but owns a 5.52 ERA for the season, so far. Lucas Luetge has allowed 5 runs in 9+ innings. Yet, the Pinstripes bullpen is being lauded as one of the best. Why?
Some athletes are like fine wines or bourbons, depending on your preference. They take time to develop. Minor league baseball is stocked with players that organizations hope will develop like a fine cabernet or single malt bourbon. Ballclubs begin touting some of these young players on they day they sign their contract. However, most of them are never mentioned.
The saying, "we learn from our mistakes," is as old as time. Look back in your life ten years and I'd be surprised if you didn't wish you handled certain situations differently. When you are in a starting pitching rotation for the New York Yankees and for the first time in your career things are really rolling, it's hard when those mistakes are maliciously revealed.