Sunday, June 30, 2019

Mets Make Late Comeback To Return Favor Against Braves In Series Finale

Jeff McNeil (6) returning to the dugout after scoring in the eighth inning. Photo by Jason Schott.


The Mets flipped the script on Sunday night in the series finale of their three-game series with the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. 

After watching Atlanta win the first two games of the series with late rallies, the Mets put up five runs in the eighth inning to win, 8-5, ending their seven-game losing streak.

Mets Send Alonso, deGrom, McNeil To All-Star Game

Pete Alonso at the plate and Jeff McNeil at second base in the first inning Sunday night. Photo by Jason Schott.



On Sunday evening, three Mets were selected to the National League All-Star team, first baseman Pete Alonso, pitcher Jacob deGrom, winner of the 2018 NL Cy Young Award; and infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil.

MLS Weekend Report: Red Bulls, NYCFC Win At Home

Kaku. @NewYorkRedBulls.



In the first action for the MLS locals this week coming out of a three-week international break, the Red Bulls beat the Chicago Fire, 3-1, on Friday night at Red Bull Arena, and New York City Football Club beat the Philadelphia Union, 4-2, on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.

Books: "The Echo Park Castaways"





The Echo Park Castaways
By M.G. Hennessey
HarperCollins; hardcover; ages 8-12; grades 3-7; $16.99; available Tuesday, July 2

The Echo Park Castaways shines a powerful light on the Los Angeles foster care system, while telling a poignant and optimistic story suitable for middle grade readers. It tells the story of four vastly different kids who are housed together and the connection they forge that helps them overcome obstacles and create their own family.

Saturday, June 29, 2019

Books: On the 1969 Amazin' Mets





The Mets will be celebrating their 1969 World Championship team this weekend at Citi Field, and there are plenty of new books you can read on this Amazin' team: After the Miracle by Art Shamsky and Erik Sherman; They Said It Couldn't Be Done by Wayne Coffey; and Miracle Year 1969 by Bill Gutman.

Friday, June 28, 2019

Mets' Slide Continues As Braves Spoil Start of 1969 Weekend

Jacob deGrom of the Mets pitching to Atlanta's Josh Donaldson with the 1969 pennant on the field for the big weekend. Photo by Jason Schott.


The Mets lost a tough one to the Atlanta Braves, 6-2, at Citi Field on Friday night, the opening of a weekend in which their honoring the 1969 World Championship team.

This was the Mets' sixth straight defeat as they fell to a season-high nine games under .500 at 37-46, 12 games behind Atlanta (49-34) for first place in the National League East.

Callaway On Diaz: "When he's right, he's the same guy he was last year."

Mets Manager Mickey Callaway. Photo by Jason Schott.


The Mets' bullpen has been a disappointment this season, and that includes the one guy who should have been an automatic, closer  Edwin Diaz.

When the Mets acquired Diaz from Seattle, along with Robinson Cano, the thinking was they they were getting one of the top closers in baseball, as he had 57 saves last season.

Yankees Host Baseball Clinic In London

Yankees Manager Aaron Boone talks to the young players. Photos provided by New York Yankees.



On Thursday, at Finsbury Park in London, the Yankees hosted a baseball clinic for approximately 100 youth in the London community in conjunction with the London Meteorites Baseball and Softball Club.

Books: English Baseball A "Pastime Lost"





Pastime Lost: The Humble, Original, and Now Completely Forgotten Game of English Baseball
By David Block
University of Nebraska Press; 328 pages; hardcover & eBook, $29.95 

This weekend, the Yankees and Boston Red Sox will play two games in London, the first time Major League Baseball will play regular season games in the country.

England is arguably the birthplace of the sport, as its citizens of all ages, genders, and classes of society were playing a game called baseball long before the sport became America’s national pastime.

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Mets Rename Citi Field's Address To 41 Seaver Way

Tom Seaver's daughers Sarah Seaver Zaske and Anne Seaver with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon after 41 Seaver Way was unveiled. Photo by Jason Schott.


On Thursday morning, to inaugurate a weekend in which they will honor the 1969 World Championship team, the Mets  honored Hall of Famer Tom Seaver by renaming the street between Northern Blvd. and Roosevelt Ave. (formerly 126th St.) to Seaver Way and changing the address of Citi Field to 41 Seaver Way.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Boone: Yankees "will really look forward to the excitement" Of London Series

Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. Photo by Jason Schott.



The Yankees are heading to London, ready to take on the Boston Red Sox in the first-ever Major League Baseball games to be played across the pond. The games will be on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. New York time, and Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Yankees Complete Epic Homestand With Walk-Off Winner

Gleyber Torres getting the winning hit. Photo by Jason Schott.


The Yankees completed a 9-1 homestand and a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with an 8-7 win on a walk-off hit from Gleyber Torres in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Yankees started off this 10-game run at Yankee Stadium with a sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, then took three of four from the Houston Astros before this three-game sweep of Toronto.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Mets Launch Virtual Vault Of Team's History

The celebration when the Mets won the 1969 World Series.


The Mets, along with Heritage Werks, are excited to announce the launch of The Virtual Vault, a completely free digital archive of historical material that tells the story of the Mets franchise.

Monday, June 24, 2019

Mets' Pete Alonso NL Player Of The Week

Pete Alonso.



Mets rookie first baseman Pete Alonso has been named the W.B. Mason National League Player of the Week and All-Star outfielder Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels has been named the W.B. Mason American League Player of the Week. 

Books: New Beach Reads

Photo by Jason Schott.


There are many new exciting new novels to read as summer begins and people think of what books to read as they lounge on the beach: The Friend by Joakim Zander; The Great Unexpected by Dan Mooney; Cygnet by Season Butler; A Family Of Strangers by Emilie Richards; and The Snakes by Sadie Jones.

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Books: "Ten Innings At Wrigley" On One Of The Wildest Ballgames Ever




Ten Innings At Wrigley: The Wildest Ballgame Ever with Baseball on the Brink
By Kevin Cook
Henry Holt and Company; hardcover, 272 pages; $28.00

There has been a great tradition in baseball writing of books that focus on one game and all that goes into it, with a recent example Power Ball by Rob Neyer, which focused on a game in the past few years between the Houston Astros and Oakland A's and the systems they employ to win.

Yankees Old-Timers' Day Today; Rivera A First-Time Old-Timer

Mariano Rivera.



The Yankees have announced the roster of former Yankees who will be on hand at the 73rd annual Old-Timers’ Day on Sunday, June 23, at Yankee Stadium, which is the 11th Old-Timers’ Day at the current Stadium.

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Yankees Win Slugfest With Astros For 8th Straight

Aaron Judge at the plate in the sixth inning Saturday night. Photo by Jason Schott.



Summer is here, the Yankees are in first place, all their stars have returned, and with a possible playoff preview against Houston on tap, a crowd of 46,034 created quite a raucous atmosphere at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night.

Yankees' HOPE Week Magic Continues On The Field After Honoring Worthy Causes

Cameron Maybin gives Kiko Mina, whom the Yankees presented with an AdaptAbility bike, a fist bump, as Manager Aaron Boone looks on. Photo by Jason Schott.


The Yankees completed their fourth-ever HOPE Week sweep on Friday night with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium.

Finalists For First-Ever MLB All-Star Starters Election Announced

Yankee Stadium. Photo by Jason Schott.



Finalists for the first-ever Google MLB All-Star Starters Election were announced during Friday night’s MLB Network Showcase telecast of the Yankees hosting the Houston Astros.

The Starters Election features the top three vote-getters at each position (and the top nine outfielders) in each League based on vote totals from “The Primary,” which ran from May 28th through 4:00 p.m. ET this afternoon.

Books: "Soaring to Glory" On A Heroic Tuskegee Airman





Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman's Firsthand Account of WWII
By Philip Handleman and Lt. Col. Harry T. Stewart, Jr.
Regnery History; hardcover; $29.99

The Tuskegee Airmen formed one of the most revered military units in history, a heroic group famed black aviators who fought in World War II who formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces.

Friday, June 21, 2019

Yankees HOPE Week Concludes In Brooklyn With AdaptAbility


Cameron Maybin rides the AdaptAbility bike with Kiko Mina. All Photos by Jason Schott.



The 10th Anniversary edition of Yankees HOPE Week concluded on Friday afternoon in Brooklyn.

Manager Aaron Boone, along with players Aaron Hicks, DJ LeMahieu, Cameron Maybin and Brooklyn native Adam Ottavino joined Sandra Alfonzo at her “Behind Bars in Brooklyn” bike repair shop in the South Slope section of Brooklyn to surprise a 14-year-old with special needs, Kiko Mina, with his very own adaptive bicycle.

Boone Says Judge Is "Ready to go and he'll impact us in a big way"

Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge. Photo by Jason Schott.



The Yankees activated right fielder Aaron Judge on Friday morning after two months of recovery from a left oblique strain.

In 20 games this season up to when the injury occurred on a swing against Kansas City on April 20, Judge hit .288 with five home runs and 11 RBI, and when you throw in his 14 walks, he had a .404 on-base percentage, best on the team.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Bronx Bombers Bash Astros To Continue Making A Statement

DJ LeMahieu greeting Luke Voit on the way back the dugout after his fourth-inning home run. Photo by Jason Schott.


The Yankees are in the midst of a homestand that is turning into a major statement to the rest of the league that they are a force to be reckoned with.

They started the week off with a sweep of their American League East division rival Tampa Bay Rays, and they kept that momentum going on Thursday against another contender in the Houston Astros in a 10-6 rout.

Thursday's Yankees HOPE Week Honoree: Furniture Sharehouse


Austin Romine shows furniture to one of the worthy families. Provided by New York Yankees.



At Thursday's HOPE Week event, Yankees players Luke Voit, Zack Britton, Gleyber Torres, J.A. Happ, Gio Urshela, Jonathan Holder, Austin Romine and bullpen coach Mike Harkey surprised two local families and Furniture Sharehouse volunteers at their warehouse in Westchester County and helped the families select their furniture. The group then enjoyed lunch together at the facility.

Mets Fire Eiland In Pitching Coaches' Shakeup

Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen. Photo by Jason Schott.



A day after the Mets fell into fourth place in the National League East and had one of their toughest losses of the season in Atlanta, capping a series in which the Braves won two out of three, they shook up their coaching staff.

New Rochelle To Hold Parade For Rivera On July 27

Mariano Rivera.



The City of New Rochelle will be celebrating one of their former residents, the Yankees legendary closer Mariano Rivera and his unanimous selection into the Baseball Hall of Fame, on Saturday, July 27 with a pinstripe parade culminating with a celebration at the  Hudson Park Bandshell.

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Sabathia On Meaning Of 250 Wins: "I've been blessed"

CC Sabathia after achieving the milestone victory. Photo by Jason Schott.



CC Sabathia earned the 250th victory of his illustrious career as the Yankees routed the Tampa Bay Rays, 12-1, on Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium to complete a three-game sweep of their division rivals.

CC Gets 250th Win, Yankee Offense Puts On Clinic In Rout Of Rays

Gary Sanchez rounding second base on his home run in the first inning. Photo by Jason Schott.



CC Sabathia earned his 250th victory as the Yankees routed the Tampa Bay Rays, 12-1, on Wednesday afternoon to complete the sweep of this pivotal three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees (46-27) now lead the Rays by 3-1/2 games in the American League East and they welcome in another contender, the Houston Astros, on Thursday for a four-game set.

Yankees' Formula To Win Has Not Changed

Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. Photo by Jason Schott.



When the Yankees acquired Edwin Encarnacion from Seattle over the weekend, the focus was on the fact that they were adding the the American League leader in home runs (he got his first homer as a Yankee on Tuesday) to a lineup with four other prodigious sluggers, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, and Luke Voit.

Wednesday's HOPE Week Honoree: The Great Olmedini


The Great Olmedini. Photo by Jason Schott.


On Wednesday morning, Yankees pitchers James Paxton, Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green, Luis Cessa, Nestor Cortes Jr. and David Hale surprised HOPE Week honoree The Great Olmedini at his East Harlem apartment, then helped him perform magic tricks for NYC subway passengers on a 4-train bound for Yankee Stadium.

YouTube To Run MLB Game Of The Week Starting In July

Photo by Jason Schott.



YouTube and Major League Baseball (MLB) announced the first three matchups for their first-ever exclusive live game streaming distribution partnership: The MLB Game of the Week Live on YouTube. The package includes free live broadcasts of 13 games exclusively on YouTube during the second half of the 2019 MLB regular season.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Tuesday's HOPE Week Honoree: Runway Heroes

Didi Gregorius, Masahiro Tanaka, and the young models are ready for the runway. All Photos Courtesy of the New York Yankees - All Rights Reserved.


At Tuesday's HOPE Week event, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman, Yankees General Partner/Vice Chairperson Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, and players Aroldis Chapman, Didi Gregorius, Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Domingo Germán and Kendrys Morales joined the founder of Runway Heroes, Rachel Goldman, at the iconic Kleinfeld bridal store in Manhattan where they surprised children with cancer and their families for a fashion show. 

Monday, June 17, 2019

Encarnacion "Can't Wait" To Join Yankees Lineup; "It's going to be fun"

Edwin Encarnacion meeting the media on Monday afternoon. Photo by Jason Schott.




The Yankees made a big move over the weekend, as they acquired first baseman/designated hitter Edwin Encarnación from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for right-handed pitcher Juan Then and cash considerations.

Tanaka Twirls A Gem To Take Down Tampa

Masahiro Tanaka after striking out Joey Wendle to end the eighth inning. Photo by Jason Schott.



Masahiro Tanaka had one of his best games as a Yankee on Monday night, as he threw a complete game shutout against the Tampa Bay Rays as the Yankees won the opener of this critical series, 3-0.

Yankees Celebrate 10th Anniversary Of HOPE Week With Party At Stadium


HOPE Week honorees from the past 10 years of the initiative were in attendance. All Photos by Jason Schott.


The Yankees celebrated the 10th anniversary of HOPE Week (Helping Others Persevere & Excel) with an on-field celebration at Yankee Stadium on Monday afternoon, and it featured running the bases, carnival games, face painting, wiffle ball, and magicians.

Books: Patricia Bright's "Heart & Hustle"





Heart & Hustle: Use Your passion. Build your brand. Achieve your dreams.
By Patricia Bright
Harper Collins Publishers; hardcover, 250 pages; $25.99; available today, June 18

Patricia Bright has one of the fastest growing lifestyle YouTube channels with nearly three million followers around the world. 

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Callaway Still Confident As Mets Face Crucial Road Trip

Mets Manager Mickey Callaway. Photo by Jason Schott.


On Monday night, the Mets start a three-game series in Atlanta against the first-place Braves, the start of an 11-game road trip against playoff contenders.

The Braves are 42-30, winners of nine of their last 10 games as they have taken over first place in the National League East.

Mets Lose 2 Pitchers & 3rd Game Of Weekend Set To Cards

Mets pitcher Jason Vargas heading back to the dugout after he left the game in the fourth inning. Photo by Jason Schott.


It was a tough Sunday for the Mets, as they had to place one of their best pitchers, Noah Syndergaard, on the 10-day injured list on Sunday morning, then lost one of their most reliable arms, Jason Vargas, during the game against St. Louis because of a left calf cramp, and then they went on to lose late once again, 4-3, to the Cardinals.

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Bronx Bombers Add Another Bat In Encarnacion

Edwin Encarnacion.



The Yankees have acquired 1B/DH Edwin Encarnación from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RHP Juan Then and cash considerations.

Encarnación, 36, leads the American League in home runs with 21, which is also fourth in the Majors; 49 RBI, tied for third, and 48 runs scored (tied for fourth). He has a solid slash line of .241/.356/.531 (58-for-241) with 48 runs scored , 7 doubles, 21HR, 49RBI and 41BB in 65 games with Seattle this season. On June 9 vs.  the Los Angeles Angels, he became the 56th player in Major League history to reach the 400 home run plateau.

Mets Moves: Baty Signs; Pounders Brought In From Cleveland

Citi Field and the famous Apple. Photo by Jason Schott.



On Saturday, the Mets signed their 2019 first-round draft pick, third baseman Brett Baty, and acquired right-handed pitcher Brooks Pounders from the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations in the hopes he can help their bullpen.

Books: "The Perfect Fraud" By Ellen LaCorte




The Perfect Fraud
By Ellen LaCorte
Harper/HarperCollins Publishers; hardcover, 304 pages; $26.99; available Tuesday, June 18

Ellen LaCorte's intense debut novel, The Perfect Fraud, focuses on two very different women who each hold powerful secrets.

Claire is living in Sedona, Arizona with her boyfriend Cal and she is in the midst of ducking calls from her mother. Her mom is a world class psychic on the East Coast and Claire doesn't want her to discover the truth.

Friday, June 14, 2019

Familia Falters Late As Mets Drop Second Game To St. Louis

St. Louis' Dexter Fowler rounding third base on his game-winning home run. Photo by Jason Schott.



For the second straight night, the Mets' bullpen blew a late lead, as Jeurys Familia gave up four runs in the eighth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals went on to win 9-5 on Friday night at Citi Field.

Cardinals Finish Job Against Diaz To Steal Win From Mets

The Cardinals celebrate in their dugout. Photo by Jason Schott.



On Friday night, the Mets and Cardinals picked up where they left off on Thursday night with the game tied at 4 and the Mets coming to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Carlos Martinez was on for the Cardinals, and he retired the Mets in order, as Todd Frazier grounded to shortstop, Wilson Ramos struck out, and Amed Rosario grounded to second base.

Callaway: Mets Have "Pushed our starters because that's our strength"

Mets Manager Mickey Callaway. Photo by Jason Schott.



Mets Manager Mickey Callaway trusts his prized starting rotation of Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Noah Syndergaard, Jason Vargas, and Zack Wheeler, perhaps more than any other manager in the league.

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Mets Cough Up Late Lead To Cardinals; Game Suspended Until Friday Night

Jacob deGrom pitching on Thursday night.



The Mets appeared to be on their way to a victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on Thursday night, but the redbirds scored two in the ninth to tie it at 4 before the game was suspended due to rain. 

They will pick it up on Friday night at 6 p.m. in the bottom of the ninth inning before the regularly scheduled game.

Yankees Celebrating 10th Anniversary Of HOPE Week, Which Starts Monday

Last year, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and Dellin Betances took part in a softball game across from Yankee Stadium for the anti-bullying organization No Bully (nobully.org). Photo by Jason Schott.



This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Yankees HOPE Week (Helping Others Persevere & Excel) initiative, which is rooted in the belief that acts of goodwill provide hope and encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture.

Book Chat With Jason Turbow, Author Of "They Bled Blue"







Jason Turbow tells the story of the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers championship team in his new book They Bled Blue: Fernandomania, Strike-Season Mayhem, and the Weirdest Championship Baseball Had Ever Seen (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; hardcover, $26.00).

Books: On Great Baseball Stories

Photo by Jason Schott.



Baseball is a sport that is ripe for great storytelling, and three new books produce some of the best memories of the game: Tales From The Seattle Mariners Dugout by Kirby Arnold; A Tribe Reborn by George Christian Pappas; and They Played The Game by Norman L. Macht.

US Open Cup Report: NYCFC Moves On; Red Bulls Fall To Revs

NYCFC's Keaton Parks battles Aaron Guillen of North Carolina FC for the ball. USA Today Sports.



In the fourth round of the US Open Cup, New York City Football Club rolled to a 4-0 win over North Carolina FC on Wednesday night, while the Red Bulls lost to the New England Revolution, 3-2, in overtime, on Tuesday night.