Highbridge News: Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries

Highbridge News: Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries: Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries #Mets Dominate Quiet Bombers By Howard Goldin QUEENS, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- ...

Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries

Early Decisions Derail #Yankees in #SubwaySeries

#Mets Dominate Quiet Bombers

By Howard Goldin

QUEENS, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- The reward for the victor of Friday night’s Subway series contest at Citi Field was far more important than bragging rights. The Mets, victorious over the Yankees, 5‐1, raised their lead over the second place Washington Nationals to nine games in the National League East with 15 games remaining and cut the magic number to clinching their first pennant in a decade (2006) to eight.

The defeat of the Yanks cost far more than embarrassment as they fell to 4.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East, the largest deficit for them in the 2015 season.

On July 31, the Mets had a mark of 53‐50, trailed the Nationals by two games. The Yanks were in first place with a six-game lead and their season record was 58‐44. Since that date, the Mets have compiled a record of 31‐13, 17 of those victories have been comeback and the Mets have also tied the Blue Jays for the major league lead with 72 home runs. On the other hand, the Yanks have only played .500 ball (22‐22).

The difference in success between the two clubs can be traced in large part to unexpected decisions made by the management of each prior to the trading deadline, July 31. The reputation of the Mets ownership for not spending large amounts of money to acquire top talent from other teams or calling up their young and talented hurlers from their minor league system earlier than planned have been disregarded this year by general manager Sandy Alderson once a decision was made that a pennant was within reach in 2015. The Yankees also changed from their recent free spending methods in order to obtain a championship each season by making no major moves this year.

The result of Friday’s contest was a reflection of those earlier decisions. Steven Matz, in only his fifth start in the majors, gave up a run in the first, but held the Yanks scoreless in the next five frames to raise his record to 4‐0. His skipper, Terry Collins, remarked, “He was really impressive. He settled down [and] gave us six innings.”

Newcomer to the Mets, Yoenes Cespedes, has been carrying the team since his first game on August 1, but was hitless on Friday. Collins commented, “As good as Yo has been, it’s going to take a lot more than one guy to win games.” The home run was decisive from some of the other guys. Lucas Duda and Daniel Murphy hit solo home runs off Masahiro Tanaka and veteran infielder Juan Uribe, another July acquisition, hit a two run homer in the seventh.

Collins praised his importance to the team, “This guy is a big time player. Not only has he been a terrific guy in the clubhouse [but] he’s gotten big hits for us.”

Big hits were something the Yankees lacked without Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Brian McCann in the starting lineup. The Yanks left 10 runners on base while only going 2 for 8 with RISP in their 25th one run scoring game this season.

#Yankees #Mets #SubwaySeries #Tanaka #Yoenes Cespedes

Bronx DA SEEKS JUDGESHIP

BRONX D.A. SEEKING JUDICIAL NOMINATION

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)-  -- Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson announces that, today, he informed his staff he has now requested that Bronx County Democratic Chairman Marcos Crespo support his nomination for a  position as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court.

Johnson said, "This spring, I did what I have done every four years, which was to submit my name for re-election to continue in the role of District Attorney for another term.  And once again, the Bronx Democratic Party, as well as the Republican and Conservative Parties, bestowed upon me their nomination to serve as District Attorney for another term.

“I have gained tremendous satisfaction from working with this Office and all its staff to provide justice and fairness for the people of The Bronx.  However, after 42 years of public service, including the U.S. Navy, The Legal Aid Society, as a Bronx Assistant District Attorney, as a Criminal Court Judge, and as the D.A. for the past 27 years, after much inner reflection, I have concluded that I would like to serve in another capacity. It is time for change in my life. The judicial position will allow me to make  a career move that provides the change that I seek without giving up public service.

“Contrary to what has been reported, no one, including anyone associated with the Bronx Democratic Party, has ever offered me another position, nor has anyone asked me to step down or retire as the District Attorney. I have, over the years, enjoyed their full faith and support both personally and through many electoral processes.

“I understand that this position cannot be offered to me prior to the Judicial Convention on Thursday, September 24th. I would not make that presumption. In fact, having gone to the Convention in 1987 as the candidate of the then County Chairman and coming out without the nomination, I understand the process better than most. I realize that the decision rests solely with the Judicial Delegates.

“Should I not be granted the nomination, I will stand for reelection in November to the position of District Attorney in order to continue to serve the people of the Bronx, a job that I love.  It is a position that allows me to secure justice for Bronx residents and the people of New York.

“I will be making no further comment on this subject."

#BronxDA #Robert t. Johnson

Bronx Sports: A Meaningful Subway Series Begins

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Highbridge News: #Yankees ‘Celebrate’ A-Rod 3000th Hit

Highbridge News: #Yankees ‘Celebrate’ A-Rod 3000th Hit: #Yankees ‘Celebrate’ A-Rod 3000th Hit (Photos by Gary Quintal) A‐Rod’s 3,000th Hit Celebrated at Yankee Stadium  By Howard G...

#Yankees ‘Celebrate’ A-Rod 3000th Hit

#Yankees ‘Celebrate’ A-Rod 3000th Hit

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

A‐Rod’s 3,000th Hit Celebrated at Yankee Stadium 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Prior to the final game of the 10-day home stand of the Yankees, on September 13, a special ceremony was held to honor Alex Rodriguez for becoming the 29th member of the major leagues to join the 3,000 Hit Club.

The event being honored on Sunday took place nearly three months earlier. With two out and no men on base in the first inning on June 19, Rodriguez homered on a 95 mph fastball thrown by Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers to achieve his 3,000 hit in the majors. He was only the third player to hit a home run as his 3,000 major league hit. He was preceded by Derek Jeter and Wade Boggs in that accomplishment.

Rodriguez spoke about the meaning of the achievement to him immediately after the game ended, “It’s a magical number, 3,000. I’m glad to be in the club. [I‘m] very emotional, overwhelmed. I’m so happy to do it here [Yankee Stadium] in front of the fans. I was especially happy my two daughters were here.”

On Sunday, Rodriguez was joined on the field by his two daughters, his mother, his sister and his brother. A video was shown of him at various important moments of his career, achieving his first major league hit, his 1,000th hit, his 2,000th hit and his 3,000th. Also on the screen was his first manager in the majors, with Seattle, Lou Piniella, who offered his congratulations.

Rodriguez received two gifts from the Yankees, a Waterford crystal piece presented by the Yankees COO Lonn Trost, and a commemorative ring and a ring for each of his daughters, which were presented by the Yankees Managing Partner hall Steinbrenner.

The two-month delay in scheduling the tribute, the briefness of the ceremony, 10‐15 minutes, the absence of any former or current teammate speaking or on the field makes one wonder how anxious the Yankees brass were in paying tribute to Rodriguez.

Yet, much has changed since 2014 and early 2015 in how the public perceives Rodriguez. After not playing in 2015 and very little in 2014, A‐Rod has become the most effective batter on the team. He had two hits and a RBI in Sunday’s win over Toronto with his family in the ballpark. He has belted 31 homers this season, the most he has hit since 2008. He is consistently cheered by the fans in attendance. Perhaps a message was sent by the Yankees to Rodriguez by the presence of Trost and Steinbrenner bearing him gifts at his celebration.

Highbridge News: ARod Celebration In the Street

Highbridge News: ARod Celebration In the Street: ARod Celebration In the Street (Photos by Gary Quintal) Excitement on 161st Street and River Avenue, inside and outside Yankee Sta...

ARod Celebration In the Street

ARod Celebration In the Street

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

Excitement on 161st Street and River Avenue, inside and outside Yankee Stadium 

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Saturday was a day of great excitement on 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx. Inside Yankee Stadium, very large crowds were attending a rare single admission daytime doubleheader between the two teams on top of the standings in the American League East, the Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays.

There were thousands of residents and visitors happily walking along the streets in the vicinity of Yankee Stadium. The 161st Business Improvement District (161 BID), under the direction of its very able and proactive executive director Dr. Cary Goodman, organized its fifth street fair on River Avenue. Street Fair V began three hours earlier than the 1 p.m. game began in Yankee Stadium. It was very wise planning and scheduling as a street fair encourages visitors to the neighborhood. Thus, not only do customers patronize those businesses at the fair, but the fair’s presence also allows stores in the area to increase their patronage through the many new customers in the vicinity. It was also intelligent to plan all five fairs on days in which the Yankees have scheduled high profile games or other notable sporting events have been scheduled at the stadium. Saturday’s timing was also perfect as the rains over the Bronx did not begin until the fair ended.

Since many families attend a street fair, Goodman offered pleasurable activities for children. The Bronx Museum and Bronx Children’s Museum taught button making to participating youngsters.

A wide variety of foods, including free samples of Bigelow Tea, and other merchandise were offered at the large number of stands set up on River Avenue. In addition to the usual street fair offerings, the fair attendees were treated to the opportunity to watch a professional artist paint a mural of Alex Rodriguez on a store gate.

The artist, Andre Trenier, is a Bronx native, who had previously painted three baseball murals on 161st Street, Mickey Mantle, Satchel Paige and Roberto Clemente. The talented artist who is also a personable individual was happy to speak with fair‐goers and receive immediate feedback, which were overwhelmingly words of praise. He was also curious to determine how Rodriguez is viewed by most baseball fans. Not surprisingly, he assessed the relationship as “love‐hate”. Interestingly, while Trenier was painting, the cheers could be heard from inside the stadium as Rodriguez belted his 31st home run of the season.

The mural is the 11th baseball painting that has been sponsored by the 161 BID to appropriately beautify the neighborhood. Plans are being made to add painting of Joe DiMaggio and Thurman Munson to those already completed.

Unlike the people in the street, most fans in the ballpark, especially rooters of the Yankees, were exceptionally disappointed to see their favorite team drop a very crucial doubleheader to the Toronto Blue Jays and drop to 4 1⁄2 games behind the leaders of the American League East.

Highbridge News: Bronx BP on the Mound at Yankee Stadium

Highbridge News: Bronx BP on the Mound at Yankee Stadium: Bronx BP on the Mound at Yankee Stadium 100 PERCENT By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- The headline refers to...

Bronx BP on the Mound at Yankee Stadium

Bronx BP on the Mound at Yankee Stadium

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- The headline refers to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. not pitching for the Yankees (although he probably would be a perfect fit in the current Yankee pitching rotation), but BP Diaz throwing out the first pitch of the BP Little League Championship Cup play at Yankee Stadium last week.

It was the Kingsbridge Knights vs. the Grand Slam All Stars, and to me it looked like the bigger and stronger Grand Slam team would be the winners of this game. As the game went on it was the pitching, defense, and speed of the Kingsbridge Knights that would make them the winners by a score of 4 – 2 when the game was over.

You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see photos of BP Diaz on the mound at Yankee Stadium throwing out the first pitch of the game, and we may just see BP Diaz sometime in the future throwing out the first pitch of a real Yankee game. Also there are photos of the Little League Baseball players coming on to the field from the dugouts just as their favorite baseball players do. It was a thrill for each and everyone who played in the game to be on the field where legends are made. Who knows, maybe one of those who played in the BP's Cup will return to Yankee Stadium as a Yankee.

This past week has been a busy one for many elected officials who have made sure that many children are sent off to school with the needed supplies in the free backpacks they were given. State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. was on hand at the Boyton Avenue Aguliar Inc. backpack giveaway last week. The 43^rd Precinct was also on hand to help fill the backpacks with the needed supplies for the children. One thing however the children will be missing will be the much needed after school programs to help them in areas where they need help to succeed in school.

Unfortunately many Bronx students score in the lower or lowest of the four performance levels. That being level one which is failing, or in the lower half of level 2 which is also failing, hence the term failing school. However, to avoid using the term failing school, the elected officials have rewritten the education law to replace the word 'Failing' with 'Struggling'. So if you see or hear the term 'Struggling School', it means that the school is failing the students, mush as many Bronx schools have failed students year after year.

Speaking of failing the city, Comptroller Scott Stringer has come out saying that Mayor Bill de Blasio has mismanaged the shelter system, and has rejected several contracts for shelters some more than once when they were resubmitted by the mayor's office. This surely sounds like a candidate for mayor in 2017 speaking, and it is looking like there will be a primary in 2017 for the current mayor, but the question is whom will it be? Here in the Bronx this year the question is, just who is the Bronx Democratic County Leader? With the Daily News and the Post saying that current DA Robert Johnson will become a judge either after he is reelected or during the election process so that the committee of vacancies on his petition can choose his replacement (the Bronx Democratic County organization). Could it be that the real county leader is still Assemblyman Carl Heastie, as it looks like Heastie wants to pick the replacement for State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson, as Heastie is trying to clear the way for one of his staffers.

This Saturday September 12^th at 11 AMthe corner of Esat 229^th Street and White Plains Road by the Community Board 12 office will be renamed Carmen Rosa Way for the former longtime CB 12 District Manager. Councilman Andy Cohen will officiate the ceremony, and present the family with a City Council proclamation.

Also don't forget to check my blog for the upcoming listing of events by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, such as the Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Thursday September 17^th at Scavello's Restaurant located at 101 City Island Avenue, beginning at 5:30 PM. Check my blog for more details in the archive section on the left under the heading BCC 2015 Hispanic Heritage or call the BCC at718-828-3900 or visit the BCC website at www.bronxchamber.org

If you have any political information that you want to share or have checked out, any comments about this column, or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.

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Surge of Home Runs Bring the #Yankees Closer to First Place

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK (SPORTS)- Three home runs accounted for all five runs scored by the Yankees in their first game of the current 10-day homestand on Friday night. The 5-2 win over the Tampa Rays was the club’s sixth win in their most recent seven games. 

Home runs were a major weapon in their recent success as they hit 15 in the seven contests, eight in the last two games. 

A-Rod, dropped to fifth in the batting order after only hitting safely five times in his last 29 at bats, blasted his 27th homer of the season on the first pitch he saw in his first trip to the plate. The home run drove in the first two runs of the contest as Brian McCann was on first after drawing a walk. 

Two innings later, McCann hit a solo home run off his “cousin” Jake Odorizzi. The Yankee catcher has hit successfully 11 times in 17 at bats with three homers and 10 RBI off the right-hander. The batter minimized his success by saying, “If you play long enough, you’re going to have success against somke guys.” 

The third and final hit Odorizzi yielded was also a home run to rookie Greg Bird with one on in the seventh. 

It was the rookie’s fourth homer and 14th RBI in his 19 big league games. 

Another Yankee rookie, Luis Severino, who like Bird made his major league debut in August, has been a blessing to the Yanks. The Yankee starter won his third straight game by pitching a season high 6.1 innings. He gave up seven hits and only one run. 

The run came on a homer by the Rays third sacker, Evan Longoria, his 15th at the current Yankee Stadium. He ranks second as a visiting player to only Jose bautista in number of home runs hit in the ballpark that opening in the 2009 season. 

Severino’s catcher, McCann, was exteremly impressed by the young hurler, “He’s only going to get better and better.” 

The victory of the Yanks coupled with Toronto’s 10-2 loss to Baltimore cut the Blue Jay’s advantage over the Yankees to 0.5 games in the tight pennant race that has one month remaining. An especially crucial series will begin on Thursday night when the Blue Jays visit Yankee Stadium to begin a four game series.

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$31 Million Bilked in Medicaid Mills

$31 Million Bilked in Medicaid Mills

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- A man was convicted of running fraudulent Bronx Medicaid mills that bilked the government out of $30 million and give HIV patients watered down meds.

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Oscar Huachillo, the former owner and operator of multiple HIV/AIDS clinics in New York City, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 87 months in prison for orchestrating a scheme to defraud Medicare out of more than $31 million; he was also sentenced to 60 months in prison, to be served concurrently, for evading more than $3.4 million in federal income taxes by falsely underreporting his income. 

As part of the scheme, Huachillo submitted bills to Medicare for expensive treatments that were administered at highly diluted doses or never administered at all, and were often unnecessary. Huachillo previously pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud and committing tax evasion before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who imposed today’s sentence.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Oscar Huachillo defrauded Medicare out of tens of millions of dollars and evaded millions of dollars in taxes on his illegal windfall. His schemes put patients at risk, undermined and exploited the Medicare program, and cheated honest taxpayers.”

According to the criminal complaint, superseding information, and other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, as well as statements made at related court proceedings:

Huachillo set up and operated multiple health care clinics in New York City that purported to provide injection and infusion treatments to Medicare-eligible HIV/AIDS patients, but that were, in reality, health care fraud mills (the “Clinics”) that routinely billed Medicare for medications that were never provided or were provided at highly diluted doses, and that were often unnecessary because the person being “treated” did not medically need the treatments.

Huachillo and his co-conspirators executed the fraudulent scheme by recruiting HIV/AIDS patients who were eligible for Medicare to come to the clinics multiple times per week, for multiple months, to undergo expensive “treatments” that were often unnecessary. The purported treatments included drugs costing hundreds of dollars each to administer and typically reserved for cancer and anemia patients. Huachillo and his co-conspirators paid the patients cash kickbacks of up to $300 per week in exchange for coming to the clinics and agreeing to undergo the treatments. Patients were also offered approximately $50 for each additional patient they referred to the clinics. Huachillo and his co-conspirators then used these patients’ status as Medicare beneficiaries to submit claims to Medicare for reimbursement for the treatments purportedly administered to the patients, often receiving tens of thousands of dollars in reimbursements per patient. As a result of the scheme, from 2009 through 2013, Huachillo and his co-conspirators defrauded the Medicare system out of at least $31 million.

In addition, Huachillo willfully evaded over $3.4 million in taxes owed to the IRS during the tax years 2009 through 2011 by falsely underreporting his taxable income, including income he had obtained through fraudulent Medicare claims.

In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Failla said, “[I]n the cases I’ve had as a judge, this is the worst fraud I’ve had. $31 million in losses; that’s terrible.” She also said, “The conduct is simply reprehensible.”

In addition to the term of prison, Huachillo, 55, of Manhattan, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $3,454,244.16 in restitution and $31,177,987.84 in forfeiture, including forfeiture of approximately $14 million of assets that were seized at or around the time of Huachillo arrest in August 2013.

George Juvier, 58, of Manhattan, has been charged separately in connection with the Medicare fraud scheme. In January 2015, Juvier pled guilty to engaging in a health care fraud conspiracy before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas. Juvier is scheduled to be sentenced at 11:00 a.m. on October 8, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the investigation. Mr. Bharara also thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division for their assistance in the investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.

#Medicaid #Fraud #MedicaidMills #HIV

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