Will Gardner Stay in Pinstripes?

Will Gardner Stay in Pinstripes?

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 13- New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner traveled from South Carolina this week for the 34th Annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner to support the AHRC New York City Foundation. 

Gardner was among several New York sports stars who were honored for their off-the-field efforts in bettering the lives of others as well as their athletic accomplishments. Among the 2014 award recipients were hurler Dillon Gee of the New York Mets, defensive specialist Anton Rolle of the New York Giants, former Knicks and Nets forward Bernard King, who was voted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, and former MLB pitching standouts David Cone and Jim Kaat, both currently baseball broadcasters.

These philanthropic occasions have raised more than $12 million that has been used to better the lives of approximately 15,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Each of the honorees expressed their gratitude when speaking with the press and praised Munson even though Gardner, Gee and Rolle were born after Munson had died. 

Gardner said of the award, “It’s a good honor. I’m humbled by it. It definitely means a lot.” He offered praise of Munson, “He played hard. He played the game the right way. He set an example for the younger players.”

Gardner, who was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, has been with the organization since that day. Although in 2013 he had a batting average of 273 with a single season high in home runs and runs batted in, his name was often mentioned in trade rumors during the off-season. Gardner reacted to questions of how it affected him, “It’s hard to ignore it [a rumor]. It always follows you.”

The thought of Gardner being traded for a starting pitcher intensified when the Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury as a free agent, the center fielder of the Red Sox in 2013. Gardner explained his reaction, “I felt like I did pretty well last year. I didn’t see it coming. We have the same skill set; you wonder what’s going to happen.”

Gardner put a positive face on playing with his new alter ego teammate, “Hopefully, we’ll push each other to be better. I’m sure he’ll help us win a lot of games. He makes our team better.”

As both men are center fielders, usually bat in the lead-off spot in the batting order and are known for their speed on the base paths and in the outfield, Gardner used words regarding his place on the team next year that show uncertainty, “I don’t really have any expectations of where I’ll be playing [position] or where I’ll be batting [in the order]. Until I hear otherwise, I’m planning to go to Spring Training and prepare to help this team. Until something happens, I expect to be a Yankee.”

Since last season ended, Gardner explained he was “enjoying my time at home in South Carolina with my wife and sons [ages 3 and 5].” Of the annual trek to Spring Training, he remarked, “It’s always an exciting time of the year [although] it’s tough to leave home. My goal is to be physically and mentally prepared for the season”, said Gardner. 

Gardner was enthusiastic when asked his opinion of the off-season transactions of the Yankees, “Right now, I like our chances. Every year, we get new faces and everybody gets along pretty well. I’m excited to see what these new guys can do.it reminds me of the 2008-9 off-season.”

Gardner is referring to the last season, 2008, when the Yankees failed to qualify for the playoffs, and then signed costly free agents like C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira and won the World Series title in 2009.

How Gardner will fare in 2014, whether or not he will still be a member of the Yankees and where the team will finish in the standings cannot be determined at this time. Many unexpected events can take place before October, even before April. 

On February 7, it was announced that Alex Rodriguez was withdrawing his law suit against MLB and the MLBPA. Thus, his suspension of 162 games will probably remain in effect. On February 11, Masahiro Tanaka will be holding a press conference at Yankee Stadium. Those are just the first of many unforeseen events that will take place.

Highbridge News: Tanaka to Become Newest Yankee Ace?

Highbridge News: Tanaka to Become Newest Yankee Ace?: Tanaka to Become Newest Yankee Ace? By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 13- Three days before pitchers and...

Tanaka to Become Newest Yankee Ace?

Tanaka to Become Newest Yankee Ace?

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 13- Three days before pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training in Florida, the Yankees introduced their new and high priced free agent acquisition to the a large contingent of the American and Japanese sports media. The extremely well organized media event allowed questions to be asked to the new Yankee and the members of the Yankees brass in attendance without the highly anticipated event turning into an out of control circus atmosphere.

The 25 year-old pitcher surprised most in the crowd by uttering his words in English, “Hello; I’m Matsahiro Tanaka. I’m very happy to be a Yankees.” His smile after saying those words was matched by most of the several hundred press representatives in the large Legends Club room. The tone was set for an informative rather than unnecessary adversarial meeting.

One query that implied this was Tanaka’s first trip to New York elicited an interesting reply, “My first visit to New York was when I was in high school. My first dish was sushi which I bought at a local grocery store.” As a member of a high school baseball All-Star team, Tanaka visited Yankee Stadium and met Hideki Matsui.

Although young in years, Tanaka is a seven-year veteran of the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball). Thus, he responded to questions, through his translator Shingo Horie, with care. 

One question that was asked several times was why he chose the Yankees. The response, although convoluted, gave some hints as why, “I wasn’t specifically looking to go to one team. I wanted to come here to win a championship. I understand there’s a lot of pressure here. I wanted to see how far I could go. I just wanted to put myself in this environment.”

Tanaka minimized the influence of other Japanese major leaguers in his decision, “I’ve been watching them [current Yankees teammates Ichiro Suzuki and Hiroki Kuroda] since I was a kid growing up. I didn’t sign with the Yankees because they are here.”

He admitted he spoke on the phone briefly with former Yankee Hideki Matsui, “He basically told ne how good the city was.” When he was questioned as to whether he planned to seek advice from Yu Darvish, a recent very successful transfer to MLB, he replied that he didn’t because they are such different types of pitchers.

Tanaka said he recognized the many adaptions he would have to make regarding the size of the baseball, the number of days between starts, batters he never previously faced and the culture he would be living in, “I just feel it’s very important for me to make that adjustment.”

The point of view of the Yankees towards the signing of Tanaka was clearly explained by General Manager Brian Cashman and Managing Partner Hal Steinbrenner.

Cashman told of the preparation, “We had scouts at every home game [last year]. We put ourselves in a position to evaluate the talent.”

Steinbrenner spoke openly of his feelings for making this agreement with the young pitcher, “When we do things we have to do them right. 189 [million dollars] or not, we wanted a quality starter. Nobody scouted him as much as we did. We wanted to see him as much as we could. He has the toughness and the ability. He’s been on the big stage there. He’s going to be perfect in the clubhouse going to be a great teammate.”

The general manager described the impressions he had of the new hurler, a presence reminiscent of that of Orlando “El Duque’ Hernandez, all business when necessary but a distinct personality with a sense of humor. 

While it is not reasonable to expect him to win 28 straight games as he ended the most recent phase of his career in Japan, it is possible that he can be a great boon to the Yankees in the immediate future.

Highbridge News: Bronx Gets Shortchanged AGAIN!

Highbridge News: Bronx Gets Shortchanged AGAIN!: New Mayor, Same Result: Bronx Gets Shortchanged AGAIN! Officials blame residents for icy streets By David Greene BRONX...

Bronx Gets Shortchanged AGAIN!

New Mayor, Same Result: Bronx Gets Shortchanged AGAIN!

Officials blame residents for icy streets

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 12- Residents may not know if theirs is a tertiary or secondary street, but you don't have to be a genius to know that the city's new web site to track snow removal is a flop.

Residents in Norwood realized that when New York City's PlowNYC web site showed their area was plowed however, several secondary streets were not plowed enough or missed completely after two storms battered the area over three days.

Norwood residents took to Facebook after snowplows left a narrow path and large patches of ice along Decatur and Hull Avenues between East Mosholu Parkway North and E. 204 Street-- causing more than a few vehicles to become stuck.

Shortly after the latest storm of February 5, PlowNYC reported the roadway's were clear. The following Thursday angry residents took to the social media web site that apparently generated calls to both 311 and Councilman Andrew Cohen's office.

The source, who noticed the problem when she attempted to assist an elderly woman cross one of the ice covered streets, recalled, "They came and plowed, but I called them again and said it wasn't good enough, so they came back."

Sources say a plow again returned late Monday and eventually cleared the roadway.

Unpaved streets were also reported along Kossuth Avenue as well as Tryon Avenue, both in the Norwood section.

Meanwhile, traffic agents appeared to be engaged in a ticket blitz as two-man teams patrolled down Bainbridge Avenue and across E. 204 Street, converging on any vehicle in a no standing zone or metered spot.

The two-manned teams of ticket writers were also spotted in force in the Morris Park, Tremont and Fordham sections as hundreds of cars remain encased in blocks of solid ice two or three feet deep.

PlowNYC has been tracking the progression of snow removal by the Department of Sanitation of New York (DSNY) since Feb, 2013 and was created in response to the snow removal fiasco of 2010.

The PlowNYC program outfitted 1,700 plows and salt spreaders with GPS tracking devices that send the information to a central computer that uploads the information to an on-line map.

Keith Mellis, a spokesman at DSNY defended the department, claiming, "The block had been plowed by DSNY," but added that the situation was caused by careless residents.

Mellis claimed, "It's caused by people who throw it back into the

middle of the street and we go through with a plow and can't pick it up."

He explained that the tossed ice becomes embedded into the blacktop by passing vehicles.

Pleading with the public for cooperation, Mellis, now gearing up for the next storm, urged, Please don't put it back in the street."

Highbridge News: Former Gang Bangers Reach Out to Stop Gun Violence...

Highbridge News: Former Gang Bangers Reach Out to Stop Gun Violence...: Former Gang Bangers Reach Out to Stop Gun Violence BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 10- A cutting-edge statewide gun and gang violence p...

Former Gang Bangers Reach Out to Stop Gun Violence

Former Gang Bangers Reach Out to Stop Gun Violence

BRONX, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 10- A cutting-edge statewide gun and gang violence prevention program – Operation SNUG – received a $300,000 award from State Senator Jeff Klein to operate in The Bronx’s Jacobi Medical Center. The hospital also generously chipped in another $50,000 to the anti-gun violence effort.

Operation SNUG – guns spelled backwards – is an aggressive, on the ground program that brings reformed gang members and criminals to hotbed street corners to teach their hard-learned lessons to troubled youths. Acting as “violence interrupters” these individuals will be on the front lines, facing down potentially violent confrontations in some of New York City’s toughest neighborhoods. Expanding on the program’s past success, violence interrupters will be on the ground in the Bronx to mediate disputes before guns are drawn.

Senator Klein was the only elected official in New York City to secure SNUG funding for his district in 2014. The new program builds on the anti-gun momentum Senator Klein began last year when he co-authored and helped passed the NY SAFE Act, a new law which finally gives New York the toughest gun laws in the country.

“I’m proud that I was able to deliver $300,000 to the people in the Bronx who need this program the most. SNUG’s aggressive and proven approach makes it clear to our young people that guns and gang violence do not need to be a way of life,” said Senator Klein. “Our violence interrupters can reach these kids in a way that no one else can. Their inspiring stories teach kids that gun violence is not worth the tragedy and jail time that too often tear apart our communities. This initiative, along with the NY SAFE Act, are essential tools in our fight to eliminate gun violence,” Klein added.

The state’s Division of Criminal Services (DCJS) selected Jacobi Medical Center Auxiliary, Inc. to run the Operation SNUG program. Thanks to Senator Klein’s advocacy, the Bronx was one of only seven areas selected across the state for part of $2.18 million in funding for the initiative this year.

The funds present an exciting opportunity for Jacobi Medical Center to take an active role in the community it serves.

“More and more hospitals have to operate without walls. The funds we have obtained through DCJS and Senator Klein’s office will allow us to have a community based Injury Prevention program. Now our Auxiliary will be able to help patients in many more ways than ever before. Additional resources including violence interrupters, focused recreational programs, clinical social work intervention and follow-up will provide us with the opportunity to take preemptive measures and ensure that young adults are safe from violence” said William P. Walsh, Executive Director of Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital. 

Violence interrupters will target areas that are known to police as breeding grounds of violence, places where, unfortunately, problems have in the past been solved by guns.

“As a doctor, I have seen too many kids killed or maimed for life as a result of the senseless destruction of bullets. I became an activist because treating wounds just wasn’t enough, we need to attack this problem at is source. Thanks to this DCJS grant and Senator Klein’s efforts, we’ll be able to do just that.  Approaching the gun violence epidemic with a community-centered violence prevention program is the most effective way of ensuring these kids never get injured or have to cross through the doors of our Emergency Room.‘ said Dr. Sheldon Teperman; Trauma Service Director and Board Member of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.

“Empirical evidence shows that hospital-based interventions are extremely effective. This new program and the research it produces will allow us not only to gain an insight to those who are affected by gun violence but also to make an impact on these individuals lives,” added Dr. Stephen Blumberg.

The program could shield another mother from the agony that Elizabeth Thompson went through when her 19-year-old son, Shawn Lamont Williams, was fatally shot nearby her Bronx home.

“As a mother who has lost a child, I’m doing everything in my power to prevent another parent from enduring the same pain I have experienced. A Bronx SNUG program may be too late for my son, but if it saves one young person’s life it’s worth every penny. Thank you Senator Klein for listening,” said Thompson, member of North Central Bronx Hospital’s Community Advisory Board and a member of the North Bronx/Westchester Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc.

Some of the violence interrupters will be recruited by a local pastor, who has experience in counseling high risk youth.

“This is a very significant program that we are bringing to The Bronx. In my line of work I eulogize a lot of young men from street violence. I believe that this is a way that we can save lives. This program will be a definite blessing to the community,” said Rev. Joseph Gooding of Fellowship Tabernacle Ministries.

Operation SNUG was heralded by Community Precinct Councils across the borough, Community Board No. 10 and New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.