Highbridge News: Wild Card Hole Gets Deeper for #Yankees

Highbridge News: Wild Card Hole Gets Deeper for #Yankees: Wild Card Hole Gets Deeper for #Yankees (Photos by Gary Quintal) Yanks Lose to White Sox, 5-2. Where Will Yanks be in October? ...

Wild Card Hole Gets Deeper for #Yankees

Wild Card Hole Gets Deeper for #Yankees

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

Yanks Lose to White Sox, 5-2. Where Will Yanks be in October?

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- As only single digits of games remain for the Yankees in the 2015 regular season, if and where will they participate in the post-season? The answer has not been definitively decided. Yet, whether it brings disappointment or joy, their place 10 days from now is being made clearer each day.

The 5-2 loss to the White Sox on Friday night and the Toronto win over Tampa Bay dropped the Yanks 4 games behind the first place Blue Jays. Four games arealso what separate the Yanks from the Astros, who trail, for the first Wild Card spot. New York has a 5.5 game advantage to qualify for the second Wild Card position. The magic number or the Jays to clinch the American League east title is six and the number for the Yanks to obtain a Wild Card spot is five.

Thus, a fair guess would be that the blue Jays will win the A.L. East title and the Yanks will host the wild card game at Yankee Stadium. After Thursday night’s contest, Yankees manager Joe Girardi remarked, “I think it’s really important [where we will finish].” Many planning decisions can begin for him and his staff once that has become known. Girardi wishes to start deciding on who needs days of rest now, the roster, the starting rotation, and the starting lineup when facing a righty or lefty opposing starter.

If s one and done Wild Card game is what the first play, Girardi’s most important decision will be is who will be his starting pitcher. Each of his starter’s upcoming starts will affect that choice. On Friday, CC Sabathia made his second start since returning from the disabled list on September 8. During the first six frames he gave up two hits and single run in the second and third. In his final inning, the seventh, he surrendered two solo home runs, one by Mike Olt and one by Gordon Beckham.

The two four baggers were the difference in the result as the game had been tied at 2 going into the seventh inning. Sabathia pitched well and without pain through six. He commented on the
improvement since wearing a knee brace, “I can go through my delivery and not feel any pain.”

The pain Sabathia and the Yankees felt in the seventh was not physical. Although he had only given up two home runs in his last seven starts, home runs have been quite damaging to the veteran starter this year. He is tied for second highest in the A.L. with 28 homers. Although he is generally more effective against left-handed batters, both home runs were hit by righties. Sabathia’s record fell to 5-10.

Adam Warren will start on Saturday and rookie Luis Severino will start on Sunday.

#Yankees #WildCard #CCSabathia #YankeeStadium #BronxNews #Sports

Highbridge News: #Yogi Berra Will not be Forgotten

Highbridge News: #Yogi Berra Will not be Forgotten: #Yogi Berra Will not be Forgotten  By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- “It’s not over until it’s over.’” Unfortu...

#Yogi Berra Will not be Forgotten

#Yogi Berra Will not be Forgotten 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- “It’s not over until it’s over.’” Unfortunately, the life of Yogi Berra is now over.

The beloved former baseball great passed away this week at the age of 90. Berra was born to an immigrant couple from Italy on May 12, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in an Italian neighborhood, the Hill, in his native city. One of his childhood friends, Joe Garagiola, also reached the majors as a catcher, but was better known as an outstanding baseball broadcaster.

As a teenager, during World War II, Berra joined the U. S. Navy, he was assigned to a navy gunboat and took part in the D‐Day invasion on June 6, 1944. He earned several medals for his service including a Purple Heart and the distinguished Unit Citation.

In 1946, Berra became a member of the New York Yankees. His yearly success from 1946‐1963 earned him many honors. He was elected to 15 consecutive American League All‐Star teams, 1948‐1962. He was among the top four candidates for the American League MVP Award for seven straight seasons and the winner in 1951, 1954 and 1955.

In addition to earning individual honors, he was a major contributor to his team’s success. In 18 seasons with the Yankees, the club won the American League pennant 14 times. In 10 of those years, the Yankees were World Champions.

Although his offensive skills led him to a lifetime batting average of .285 and 358 home runs, Berra was an outstanding catcher. He is remembered as the catcher of Don Larsen when the latter through the only perfect game in a World Series. He also caught the two no hitters thrown by Allie Reynolds in 1951. On Yogi Berra day on July 18, 1999, Berra and Larsen and 42,000 fans witnessed the perfect game thrown by David Cone at Yankee Stadium.

The accomplishments of his playing career led to Berra’s election to the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1972, his second year of eligibility, and to the retirement of his and Bill Dickey’s #8. Not very well known is that Berra wore #38 in 1946 and #35 in 1947. Twelve years later, he and Dickey each had plaques in their honor placed in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.

Berra’s leadership qualities led to him being named a player/coach in 1963. The following year, 1964, he managed the yanks to the American League Championship.

In 1965, he travelled to Queens to be a player/coach although he only played in four games. He remained a coach with the Mets through 1971, and succeeded Hodges in 1972 after the latter’s untimely death. He took the Mets to the national League Championship in 1973 and managed them until the middle of the 1975 season.

The next year, Berra returned to the Yankees as coach from 1976‐1983. He succeeded and was succeeded by Billy Martin as Yankees manager from December 16, 1983‐April 28, 1985.

Berra’s innate decency, sense of humor and sparkling personality has made him a much admired individual in households where baseball is not even followed. This year, more than 100,000 persons signed a petition to qualify Berra for consideration to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

A statement by Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees Managing General Partner, represents the feelings of multitudes of people regarding Berra, “Yogi Berra’s legacy transcends baseball. Though slight in stature, he was a giant in the most significant ways through his service to his country, compassion for others and genuine enthusiasm for the game he loved. He has always been a role model and hero that America could look up to...His imprint in society stretches far beyond the walls of Yankee Stadium. He simply had a way of reaching and relating to people that was unmatched. That’s what made him such a national treasure.”

R.I.P. Yogi.

#YogiBerra #Yankees #YankeeStadium

Highbridge News: #Pope Watch

Highbridge News: #Pope Watch: #Pope Watch Fordham Prepares for #PopeFrancis’ Visit Will Stream Papal Speech By Joana Mercuri Fordham University BR...

#Pope Watch

#Pope Watch

Fordham Prepares for #PopeFrancis’ Visit

Will Stream Papal Speech

By Joana Mercuri

Fordham University

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- There is just one day until Pope Francis arrives in New York City as part of his visit to the United States, and Fordham is making arrangements to get the University community as involved as possible.

In the days leading up to the pope’s visit, Fordham has been preparing “spiritually and pastorally” in every way it can, said Lito Salazar, SJ, executive director of campus ministry. “We are encouraging daily and Sunday Mass homilists to consider invoking Pope Francis’ words or commenting on his global pastoral ministry whenever relevant to unpacking Scriptures at liturgical celebrations,” Father Lito said.

“In addition, the intentions of the pope and his visit have been and will continue to be in the intercessory prayers of the faithful. The Holy Hour devotion set for Mondays will have the same intention.”

Watch the pope live

The pope’s address to the United Nations, which takes place Friday, Sept. 25 at 8:30 a.m., will also be live streamed from the McGinley lobby at Rose Hill; Lowenstein 2nd floor plaza at Lincoln Center; and Room 228 at Westchester.

In addition, students can enter into a lottery to win a ticket to that evening’s papal Mass at Madison Square Garden. The lottery can be found in the student tab at my.fordham.edu.

Students and community members will also have the opportunity to pray evening vespers along with the pope as he leads evening prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Thursday, Sept 24. Beginning 6:45 p.m., the vespers will be streamed at University Church and Our Lady’s Chapel at Rose Hill and at Blessed Rupert Mayer, SJ Chapel at Lincoln Center.

Community service

On Saturday, Sept. 26, students are invited to participate in a community service project in honor of the pope’s visit. Participants will join Habitat for Humanity’s Pope Francis House in Yonkers to help construct homes.

“Care for the poor and the marginalized is a central theme of Pope Francis’ papacy, and using our gifts and talents to care for the needs of others is something that’s part of Fordham’s identity as a Catholic and Jesuit school,” said Conor O’Kane, director of campus ministry at Rose Hill.

“The pope has an authenticity and spiritual freedom that resonates with our students,” O’Kane said. “His leadership and emphasis on what it means to be a person of faith in the world today is a question that’s relevant to all of our students. So his messages have been animating all that we say and do here [in campus ministry].”

#Pope #Pope Francis #Fordham University #Holy Father 

BRONX NEWS: Farewell to Yogi

BRONX NEWS: Farewell to Yogi: Farewell to Yogi Yogi Berra: An icon to many on both sides of town By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Prior to the ...