Crackin' Up

Yankees Bullpen Fails to Save

White Sox Win, 4-3

(Maybe it's the heat but Yankee fans weren't the only ones who exhibited strange behavior. The bullpen blew Ivan Nova's stellar performance. Photos by Ken Carozza)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 29- The Yankees relievers in the ninth inning of Thursday night’s contest failed to preserve a 3-1 lead. A three-run homer by Dayn Viciedo of Chicago ended the Yankees five-game winning streak and the six-game winning streak over the White Sox. New York remained five games in front in the American League East as every team in the division lost on Thursday.

Yankees starter Ivan Nova made a strong attempt to win his sixth straight decision. The 25-year old pitched 7.1 innings. He gave up only a single run during his impressive stint on a two-out home run to Alejandro de Aza in the fifth. He surrendered five other hits, walked three batters and fanned five.

The Sox threated Nova only in the fourth as base hits put runners on first and third with no one out. A short fly to Center and a double play ended the threat without a run being scored.

Chicago starter Dylan Axelrod also pitched an outstanding game. Axelrod only faced difficulty in the fourth and fifth frames. A-Rod doubled to lead-off the fourth. After two batters were retired, Nick Swisher and Raúl Ibañez walked to load the bases. Eric Chavez grounded to third to end the inning without a Yankee run.

The Yankees put their first runs on the scoreboard after two were retired in the following inning. Curtis Granderson singled. He scored on A-Rod’s second double in two innings. Rodriguez crossed the plate on a double by the next batter, Robinson Cano.

A two-out homer by Mark Teixeira, his 13^th of 2012, in the bottom of the eighth put the Yanks ahead, 3-2.

The outcome was determined in the top of the ninth as the White Sox put three on the board against Yankees relievers. The Yankees pen men entered the contest second in the majors in ERA and second in allowing inherited runners to score.

Alex Rios began the ninth with a single off Cody Eppley, who retired the final batter in the eighth. Yankee skipper Joe Girardi then brought in Clay Rapada. The lefty did what was hoped for, got A.J. Pierzyinski to ground to the pitcher for what appeared to be an easy double play. Instead of two men being out, Rapada threw the ball into center field. David Robertson a righty, then came into the game and gave up the winning blow.

In the post-game press conference, Girardi faced a barrage of questions regarding his use of the relievers. Of not using closer Rafael Soriano, who has 17 saves in 18 opportunities this year, “I can’t run him out five out of six days after the very tough day yesterday and get him hurt.”

Explaining why he didn’t begin the ninth with Robertson, he said, “We’ve only used him once back-to-back. I’m going to be cautious.”  Robertson was on the disabled list from May 15-June 14.

Adam Warren of the Yanks will make his Major League debut in the second contest of the four game series on Friday night. He will face Jose Quintana (2-1) will a minuscule Era of 125.

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BP Hails Supreme’s Upholding of Obamacare

(Views on the News)

The following statement is from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. on the ruling by the Supreme Court upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:

“Today the Supreme Court delivered a major victory for the American people by upholding the‘individual mandate’ of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act today.

“This is an important law that affects millions of residents across the country. In a Borough where a high percentage of residents are uninsured, it is imperative for this law to remain so that Bronxites can access and afford the care they need. According to the Bronx Health Link, had the bill been upheld in its entirety, about 99,000 Bronx residents would have gained insurance coverage, and the uninsured rate would have gone down from 21 percent in 2009 to 14 percent. Moreover, up to 70,000 more New York State residents would have been eligible for Medicaid starting in 2014.

“It is because of this law we have made a fundamental and transformative change to how those with preexisting conditions will receive the care they so desperately need. It is because of this law we have taken a substantial step in fixing a broken system.

“But there is more work to be done; by striking down the Medicaid expansion we have missed a tremendous opportunity to impact those areas with the greatest economic need. We must continue push Congress to make the needed reforms to Medicaid so that more Americans can receive benefits under this important program.

“We thank the President for his leadership. Residents in our Borough and those across the country will have greater rights and protections when it comes to healthcare. Today is a victory for all Americans,” said Bronx borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Andy’s Down!

Yankees lose Pettitte and sweep Indians; 

Sabathia also on the DL

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 27- Yankees manager Joe Girardi arrived at the ballpark early Wednesday and felt good about his team. But a few hours later after New York swept a three-game series from the Cleveland Indians, he never envisioned losing starting pitchers CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte to injuries.

Pettitte, the starter Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx was lifted in the fifth inning when he was hit in the leg on a line drive off the bat of the Indians Casey Kotchman with the Yankees trailing 2-1.

Later in the sixth inning, in a game the Yankees would eventually won, 5-4, Girardi was informed that Pettitte had sustained a left ankle fracture. The left hander who returned in early May, after a brief one-year retirement, was placed in an ankle boot and will be out of action for the next six weeks.

Pettitte, who was once again in command, allowing two runs in four innings, and his injury was the last thing Girardi and the Yankees expected to hear. Earlier the team placed Sabathia on the disabled list with a strained left groin.

Sabathia, 9-3, developed discomfort on his left side in the fourth inning Sunday in his last start against the New York Mets.

“A bad day for lefthanders today,” commented Girardi to the media after his team won their fifth straight, and 15^th in their last 18 games. “Guys will have to step it up,” he said.

And the Yankees, who have dealt with adversity with their pitching staff, are expected to overcome this setback to their rotation. Before the season they lost newly acquired starter, Michael Pineda the entire season due to right rotator cuff tendinitis.

All-time saves leader Mariano Rivera, had surgery last week for a torn ACL of the right knee. He is not expected to return this season from the freak injury he sustained shagging fly balls in the outfield last month before the Yankees took on the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium.

“If we have to score some runs, we’ll score some runs,” said Girardi about being without two-thirds of his starting rotation. New York got another home run Wednesday, the 18^th of the season from Robinson Cano in the sixth inning.

The home run gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead, their 117^th as a team which increased their major league high

Sabathia is expected to miss two starts and return after the all-star break in mid July. “I wanted to go out and pitch Friday, but it’s early in the season and I want to be healthy,” he said.

Right hander Freddy Garcia will once again fill the void and be one of the guys that Girardi hopes will step up. Garcia, (2-2) could get the start Friday which was scheduled for Sabathia.

He came on with two outs in the fifth inning after Cody Eppley and Clay Rapada got the first two outs. The Yankees also will bring up right hander Adam Warren (5-5) with a 3.86 ERA at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

He could get the start Friday, with Garcia filling the spot for Pettitte who was scheduled to pitch again Monday night when the Yankees open their next road trip at Tampa Bay.

Warren is slowly getting an opportunity to be in the spotlight and the Yankees say they will not rush the youngster into a major role. Though with the unexpected injuries to Sabathia and Pettitte, and with the Yankees not looking to go outside the organization for help, Warren is expected to also fill the void.

“I would prefer to not go outside,” said Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman when asked about acquiring pitching help. “Let’s play it out and see.”

Added Girardi, regarding how his other healthy starters may have to step up, “They can’t make starts for Andy. That’s the thing they have to understand,” referring to Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes and Hiroki Kuroda.

And if the trend holds, the Yankees will survive this latest round of adversity as the Chicago White Sox come to the Bronx to start a four-game series Thursday night.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

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Scandal Padlocks Pride Center

In 2007, Lisa Winters (Left) posed with a member of the Weather Girls who performed for a gala fundraiser for the Bronx Community Pride Center. The center will cease operations on Saturday.

(Photo by Gary Quintal)

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 27- The Bronx’s only gay community center will close its doors for good on Saturday in the wake of the scandal in which its former director has been charged with embezzling over $300,000.

Lisa Winters, former executive director of the Bronx Community Pride Center was indicted last week on charges that she used $338,000 in center funds to pay for such items as a trip to South Africa, clothes, personal expenses including a dog walker. 

The Bronx Community Pride Center has released the following statement: 

The board of directors of the Bronx Community Pride Center (BCPC), the borough’s largest LGBTQ service organization, has unanimously voted to cease operations of the center on June 30, 2012 and to begin making arrangements for current services to be provided by partner organizations within the Bronx.

Due to BCPC’s current economic difficulties, past debt and inability to raise sufficient unrestricted funding, the organization can no longer implement its current programs. The organization has debts which exceed revenues at this time and without significant cash infusions from major donors they are unable to continue operations financially.

The Board of Directors is committed to assisting in any way to make sure that our clients continue to be served, especially since this population is traditionally under served in the Bronx. We’re a group of caring individuals and this decision has been difficult for us to make but we will never give up for our mission of heath equality.

“As BCPC closes I ask that all Bronx LGBTQ organizations come together and fill the void that would be left behind. The Board of Directors is committed to assisting in any way to make sure that our clients continue to be served, especially since this population is traditionally under served in the Bronx. We’re a group of caring individuals and this decision has been difficult for us to make, but we will never give up for our mission of heath equality,” said Antonio Centeno Jr., BCPC Board Chairperson.

The Bronx Community Pride Center is a non-for-profit organization which was incorporated in 1997 as the Bronx Lesbian and Gay Health Resource Consortium. Around 2005/2006 the name and mission was changed and the agency then became a community center. The organization is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) center that provides direct supportive and case management services including educational, cultural and wellness programs to nurture and support members of our community. They provide training and education opportunities to help train future leaders which will promote the heath of the LGBT community.

Ump Blows it as Yanks Win

Replay Debate Heats Up after Screw Up

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 27- Phil Hughes pitched eight strong innings and the New York Yankees, with a three-run first inning and a late home run from Alex Rodriguez overcame a ninth inning rally and defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-4 in the Bronx Tuesday night.

But the game story was not about the Yankees hitting another home run, a solo shot by Rodriguez in the seventh that gave New York a 5-0 lead. It was a ball that was supposedly caught by Dewayne Wise when he went over the wall down the left field line with two outs in the Indians seventh inning, on a ball hit off the bat of Jack Hannahan.

Third base umpire Mike DiMuro, after the game, saw the play on replay and realized the ball hit off Wise’s glove and fell in the stands. At the time, the Indians had a runner on third base.

Had the play been ruled a foul ball, it may not have mattered in the final outcome. Though Cleveland would score four runs in the ninth off Cory Wade, including a home run before Rafael Soriano recorded the final out and his 16^th save.

DiMuro, a veteran umpire of twelve years said, “Now that I see the tape it is obvious that the ball fell out of his (Wise) glove. In hindsight, I should have asked him to show me the ball since he fell into the stands and out of my line of vision.”

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said about the play, “It was a tough play. As much as we want them to be perfect (umpires) they are so much under a micro scope.” But, the Yankees, as with every team in baseball have been the victims of calls that have gone against them.

This time they could joke about the play and call. However, the missed call once again brings up the question about expanding the use of instant replay in the game.

Wise got a huge ovation from the crowd and tapped the glove of Yankee captain Derek Jeter as they ran to the dugout.

“What was I supposed to do run back to left field?” commented Wise about the play that also got a smile from Hughes. “I saw him looking at my glove so I just got up, put my head down and ran off the field,” he said about the call from DiMuro.

Hughes (8-6) gave up six hits, and struck out four in winning for the fifth time in his last seven starts. Rodriguez hit his 13^th home run and 642^nd of his career. The Yankees increased their major league lead home run total to 116 and won their fourth straight game.

“We only hit one home run,” said Girardi that got a laugh from media in his post game press conference. New York had a streak end of five straight games with two home runs or more. 

They look to sweep Cleveland Wednesday afternoon and are a season high 17 games over .500, with a four game lead in the American League east.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

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Home Run Derby

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Home runs continue as Yankees come home and beat Indians

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 26- Already with a Major League leading 112 home runs, the New York Yankees returned to the Bronx Monday night where they will play 13 of their next 20 games at Yankee Stadium. That’s good news for New York because a majority of those home runs have been hit in the Bronx.

That is not to say that the Yankees don’t hit the long ball on the road. That was seen over the past three days when they hit five at Citi Field against the cross town Mets as they took two of three.

With Hiroki Kuroda on the mound, and in command, the Yankees home run ball continued Monday night. Robinson Cano hit his 17^th, Nick Swisher got his 12^th, and Dewayne Wise hit his first, getting the start in center, as New York won the  opening of a three-game series over the Cleveland Indians 7-1.

“You can hold him down for a while, but he’s going to get hot,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi about Cano who has hit six of the 17 home runs in the last eight games.

Cano drove in three runs. Kuroda (7-7) took a shutout into the eighth inning and won for the fourth time in his last six starts.

The continued home run domination of the Yankees has the opposition looking. During the series with the Mets, manager Terry Collins said they hit home runs everywhere.

With three more home runs Monday night, the Yankees have now hit 14 home runs combined over their last five games. They have hit two home runs in five straight games for the first time since August 21-26 of last season.

“It feels good, everything is connecting,” commented Cano who has increased his batting average to .302 after a slow start. Earlier in the day, Cano also took the lead in voting to start at second base for the American League in the all-star game that will take place in Kansas City July 10^th.

The win was the first of seven games on this home stand that will see the Yankees host the top two teams in the American League Central. The White Sox come to the Bronx, a four game series that begins Thursday evening.

Wise got the start and Curtis Granderson was inserted as the designated hitter. Alex Rodriguez was given a night off.

Phil Hughes (7-6) gets the start for New York as the series continues Tuesday night in the Bronx.

Business Booming for Bronx Bank Robbers

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 25- With unemployment in the borough once again at record levels, a handful of individuals have been robbing banks at an alarming rate--keeping themselves and cops extremely busy with no less than 21 robberies or attempts since January.

In the latest incident a gunman entered the Capital One Bank at 725 Co-op City Boulevard at Just before 10 a.m., on June 16. The suspect fled with an unknown amount of cash. The NYPD has not released any information pertaining to this case.

In the other recent cases, it was just after 10 a.m. on June 14, when a man entered the Bank of America branch located at 2198 White Plains Road. The suspect passed the teller a note, demanding cash before fleeing.

Police described that suspect as a male Black, 5 foot 8, with a medium build. The perpetrator was reported to be wearing army-style shorts and hat.

Less than an hour earlier a man entered the HSBC Bank located at 3478 Boston Road. The suspect passed the teller a note demanded cash, but apparently fled empty handed.

That suspect was described as a male Black wearing a fishing hat.

On Wednesday, June 13, police were called to the Banco Popular at 752 E. Tremont Avenue, after a man held up the bank at gunpoint.

A source close to the investigation stated at the time that the suspect was possibly wanted for another recent robbery at the same bank. That suspect was described as a male Black in his 20's, 6-feet tall, wearing a black pea-coat, black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

On June 12, a man robbed the Capital One Bank at 19 E. Mt. Eden Avenue. That suspect was described as a heavy-set male Black, weighing 220 pounds, wearing a purple shirt and hat.

Back on June 8, a man entered the Chase Bank, located at 360 E. 149 Street, passed the teller a note and fled with an unknown amount of cash. This suspect was described as a Black male, 5' 5'' with a slim build.

A Baychester CitiBank was robbed on June 7. Police were called to 3955 Baychester Avenue at 9:30 a.m., that suspect was only described as a male Black, dressed in black.

On May 30, police once again were called to Capital One on Co-op City Boulevard, when two suspects, only described as male Black's, stole $3000 in US currency.

On May 18, police were again called to the Banco Popular on E. Tremont Avenue, after a hold-up. The gunman fled with an undetermined amount of cash.

On May 16, a robbery was reported at the Emigrant Savings Bank at 101 E. 170 Street. The perpetrator was described as a male Hispanic wearing a black shirt.

On May 14 a man robbed the HSBC Bank on W. 235 Street in Riverdale of $3,228. Police would later release a surveillance photo of the suspect, described as a Black man in his 20's, wearing a fake beard and a black baseball cap.

The same suspect is also wanted for two similar hold-ups in Brooklyn.

On May 5, an incident at the Chase Bank at 5 E. Burnside Avenue was reported, but it is not known if the suspect fled with any money.

The Chase Bank at 784 Castle Hill Avenue reported a robbery by a Black male on April 21.

On March 31, a hold-up was reported at the Chase Bank at 3775 Riverdale Avenue. Police were reportedly looking for a white male, who apparently fled empty-handed after the teller hit a silent alarm.

On January 18, an attempt was made at the Capital One Bank located at 2159 White Plains Road. Determined to make a withdrawal, sources say the suspect then walked over to the Chase Bank at 2126 White Plains Road and robbed that location.

The CitiBank at 1265 Castle Hill Avenue was held-up at gunpoint on January 17. Despite the handgun, this male suspect fled empty handed.

Leaving no bank behind, on January 14, the Chase Bank at 1489 Metropolitan Avenue in Parkchester was robbed of an unknown amount of cash.

On January 10, a woman entered the Chase Bank at 1308 E. Gun Hill Road. Witnesses say the woman claimed she had a bomb, but fled empty handed. The determined woman would return to the same bank on January 12, but once again fled empty-handed.

The year began with an attempted robbery on January 3, at the Chase Bank at 3514 White Plains Road.

Two hours later the Apple Bank at 44 E. 162 Street was robbed by a male suspect, who fled with an undetermined amount of cash.

Meanwhile, two Bronx men were charged on Thursday, June 15, with an October robbery of a Yonkers bank-- with a pellet gun.

Cops say Michael Johnson, 36, of Walton Avenue and his cousin Andre Johnson, 29, of Co-op City, were charged in connection with an October 7 hold-up of the Key Bank, located at 2500 Central Park Avenue.

The suspects in that case fled with an estimated $100,000.

The Johnson cousins are suspected in a half dozen other bank robberies in Yonkers, Nyack and surrounding areas. The pair were being held without bond in White Plains.

Andre Johnson is reportedly cooperating with the FBI, who is assisting local police in the investigation.

Anyone with any information on the Bronx cases are asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stopper's hot line at 1 (800) 577-TIPS, all calls remain confidential.