This Day in New York Yankees History 4/16: Sweet Caroline & the Evil Empire

On this day in 2013 the Yankee Stadium fans and the New York Yankees players sang Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline to pay tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Sweet Caroline is the anthem for the Boston Red Sox which makes it significant. Prior to the game with the Arizona Diamondbacks the Yankees displayed their logo alongside the Red Sox logo with the words "United We Stand" on an outside video board.

Evil Empire huh?

Yankees to Honor Fairfield American Little League Baseball Team Tomorrow!

Tomorrow night before the New York Yankees and Yankee Stadium play host to their biggest rivals in the Boston Red Sox the organization will honor one of our own. The team will welcome the Fairfield American Little League baseball team to Yankee Stadium to honor them after their impressive run through the 2017 Little League World Series. The players from the team will be able to take the players on the field with them during the National Anthem at 7:05 pm ET tomorrow night.

The Fairfield American community can purchase a limited number of tickets for $45 and then those within the community will be given a unique link to invite friends after purchasing their tickets. Everyone in the Fairfield American community will be sitting in Section 130 of the stadium.

What an awesome gesture by the New York Yankees, especially to do so while hosting the team whose executive once donned New York the “Evil Empire.” Sounds pretty evil to me, huh? Kudos to the Yankees for doing this!

This Day in New York Yankees History 4/16: Sweet Caroline & the Evil Empire

On this day in 2013 the Yankee Stadium fans and the New York Yankees players sang Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline to pay tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Sweet Caroline is the anthem for the Boston Red Sox which makes it significant. Prior to the game with the Arizona Diamondbacks the Yankees displayed their logo alongside the Red Sox logo with the words "United We Stand" on an outside video board.

Evil Empire huh?

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/24: Jose Contreras, Santa Claus & the Evil Empire

On this day in 2002 the Yankees officially got the moniker the "Evil Empire" from the Boston Red Sox when they reached an agreement with free agent Jose Contreras. The 31 year old right handed Cuban defector would sign a four year deal.


Also it is highly unreported that on this day George Steinbrenner bought Santa Claus from the North Pole for season tickets to the new Yankee Stadium.

Yulieski Gourriel Is Worth The Risk

Lost in the hubbub of Major League Baseball International signing period was that Yulieski Gourriel is expected to make his decision on where he will sign soon. The Yankees did their due diligence and had a private workout with him. Not much has been said about how it went down but if the Yankees wanted to sign him the have a few things going for them. Alex Rodriguez is Gourriel's favorite player, the Yankees were his favorite team growing up, he and Aroldis Chapman are friends. Additionally, if he is looking for comfort factor New York is probably second only to Miami regarding the Cuban population.

Gourriel has long been a star of the Cuban National Series and Cuban National Baseball Team. He has been highly sought after by not only playoff caliber teams this year but also teams looking to build for the future. He profiles as a player who can play third base, second base, and the corner outfield as soon as he gets the call to the show. With some work, he could also probably play first base as well. Given his age (32) he is probably looking at a 4-5 year contract around 10-12 million a year.

Cuban players are getting harder to scout as more players defect. Gone are the days when there was only one marquee Cuban free agent (a la Orlando Hernandez or Jose Contreas) on the market. It seems like there are always a few established players as well as some projects signed every year. Signings can be anywhere from great (Jose Abreu, Yoenis Cespedes, Aroldis Chapman), okay (Yasiel Puig) to bad (Rusney Castillo, Hector Oliviera, Yasiel Sierra and everyone the Dodgers have signed except for Puig).

The Yankees last attempt to sign a Cuban player was Yoan Moncada who ended up signing with the rival Red Sox either because they offered more money or because Felix Lopez got involved. That is a long story, you can read about it here. Signing Gourriel would reestablish the Yankees in the Cuban market. Recently the Dodgers and Reds have been heavy players. It won't send the Yankees back to the "Evil Empire" days but players may actually see the Yankees as a legitimate destination instead of just another workout.

More important however is the fact that Gourriel seems like he can help the team now and in the future. He will likely need some time in the minors to knock off the rust but once he reaches the big leagues he could serve the Yankees as a super utility player a la Ben Zobrist. He would also bring right-handed pop to the Yankees lineup. I couldn't find projections for Gourriel so here is Ben Badler's scouting report from a couple of years ago.

Gourriel has all the attributes to be an above-average offensive player. He has plus bat speed and squares up all types of pitches with good hand-eye coordination and barrel control. He wraps his barrel behind his head, angling the bat toward the pitcher, but he gets the barrel into the hitting zone quickly and has good plate coverage. He stays within the strike zone and uses the whole field, and with plus raw power on the 20-80 scale, he offers a balance of being able to hit for average, get on base and hit for power.

HOPE WEEK: What Is It, When Did It Start?

The New York Yankees kick off HOPE Week this week at Yankee Stadium with another week filled with charity showcases and good intentions as the Yankees give back to the community. HOPE Week, or Helping Others Persevere & Excel Week, started in 2009 with the goal of "performing acts of goodwill to provide encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture."

Here are a few examples of what the Yankees have done during HOPE Week via wiki:


2009

In 2009, the program, which ran from July 20–24, honored a United States Army veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division who lost use of his arms and legs to Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). The veteran and his wife and son were invited to watch batting practice from the field before the game. They were surprised by a party in a suite in Yankee Stadium with several players and their friends and family.[5]

Several Yankees surprised two men who overcame learning and developmental diseases at their place of work at a law firm in New York, where they are mail room employees.[6]Other Yankees visited a sixth-grade Little Leaguer who has cerebral palsy but helps coach his team.[7][8] After the July 24th game, the Yankees hosted a nighttime carnival for people from Camp Sundown, which is for those who suffer from Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a rare disease in which the body cannot repair cells damaged by UV light; sufferers have to avoid exposure to sunlight.[9] The kids arrived at the game after sundown, but because of a rain delay, the game had not started, so they saw the game and did the event with the Yankees until sunrise.[10]
2010[edit]

2010

The 2010 program ran from August 16–20. Manager Joe Girardi visited Jane Lang, a blind woman who attends about 30 Yankees game a season, at her home and invited her to meet the players at that evening's game.[11][12] A man from Sierra Leone, who has provided for his family since he was eight, immigrated to the U.S., and received a scholarship to go to college threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game, while a 13-year-old quadruple amputee was thrown a pool party with several Yankees.[13]
2011[edit]

2011

In 2011, the Yankees held a barbecue with children from Tuesday's Children, an organization that supports children who lost parents on September 11th.[14] Several Yankees (including Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and CC Sabathia) took survivors of the 2010 Haiti earthquake on a tour of New York City and met Archbishop Timothy Dolan.[15] Other Yankees went to a Broadway performance by a 27-year-old who survived five brain aneurysms.[16]
What will the Yankees do this season? You have to stay tuned to find out as the team doesn't release the details in advance. It's all a surprise. The great thing about it is that the players, managers, coaches and personnel all get involved making it a truly unique and awesome experience. That's what the Evil Empire does and I wish there were more like us. 

The Yankees “Evil Empire” Strikes Again

We're going to rant this morning about Chase Headley, spoiler alert, so how about a feel good story to jump start the weekend before the game starts tonight inside Fenway Park. It’s convenient that the Yankees would release this news on the eve of facing off with the team whose president called them the Evil Empire but that’s only if you believe in coincidences. I do not. What the Yankees did this week though is they let a 13-year old boy named Tracen Visage mark one of his items off his bucket list at the young man got to meet with his favorite team, the Yankees.

Tracen is battling kidney failure and his body is currently in the end-stage of renal failure. Before Tuesday night’s game the young man, who was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2009 and who has been on dialysis treatments ever since, got to meet the Yankees while hanging out with the team in the dugout and on the field. Tracen is a huge Yankees fan living in Texas and thanks to a Yankees scout, Ron Brand, and Yankees GM Brian Cashman the young man met with many Yankees including Brett Gardner, Brian McCann, Tony Pena, Ken Singleton, David Cone, Rob Thomson, Carlos Beltran, Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Starlin Castro and manager Joe Girardi.

The Yankees not only made a kids day but they may have made his life. The reports all said that Cashman and the Yankees were very open to the idea of Tracen meeting the team and hanging out with the players and I couldn’t be more proud to be a fan of this organization. There is no other organization better or more giving then this one in my very bias, yet very humble, opinion.

This Day in New York Yankees History 4/16: Sweet Caroline & the Evil Empire

On this day in 2013 the Yankee Stadium fans and the New York Yankees players sang Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline to pay tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Sweet Caroline is the anthem for the Boston Red Sox which makes it significant. Prior to the game with the Arizona Diamondbacks the Yankees displayed their logo alongside the Red Sox logo with the words "United We Stand" on an outside video board.

Evil Empire huh?

Quick Hit: HOPE Week Returns for 8th Consecutive Season

Helping Others Persevere & Excel, better known as HOPE Week. Hope Week is the week that the New York Yankees organization gives back and showcases charities and organizations that are making a difference in the community and in the world. For the last seven seasons New York has honored these organizations at Yankee Stadium and abroad using a various number of methods and this season will be no different as HOPE Week returns for its eighth consecutive season in the Bronx. This season will also mark the sixth consecutive year that the organization will get a head start on things by honoring a Tampa area organization during Spring Training.

On March 18, also known as TODAY, the Yankees will announce HOPE Week officially with a pregame ceremony at George M. Steinbrenner Field before their 6:35 pm ET game with the Baltimore Orioles. At the ceremony the team will honor Tampa’s chapter of Ainsley’s Angels, a national running organization that builds awareness for America’s special needs community and its members through events that focus on their inclusion.

Ainsley’s Angels was founded in 2008 and the running enthusiasts raise funds by running and pushing along special needs riders in wheel chairs they call chariots. The organization has chapters in 25 different states and has seen several members run coast-to-coast with their riders to raise money and awareness for the organization.

HOPE Week will run from June 6 through June 10 at Yankee Stadium and all across New York in 2016. All of the minor league affiliates for the Yankees will also hold their own HOPE Weeks allowing the program to reach five additional cities and touch 25 more lives and hearts. Evil Empire though, right Boston?

Landis Sims Not the First Child to Sign with Yankees

The New York Yankees organization has been referred to as the Evil Empire by some over in the Boston area but in my opinion that couldn't be the farthest thing from the truth. For example, New York didn't disappoint last week and didn't leave a dry eye in the room when they signed Landis Sims, a young man who was born without any hands or any lower legs, to a one-day contract that invited him to the Yankees spring training camp. This is not the first time the organization has signed a child to a one-day contract to set the tone and lead the charge, it has actually happened three times before Mr. Sims did it.

The Yankees organization signed three children during HOPE Week 2014 after all three were diagnosed with brain cancer. Ryan Tucker (12), Sean Callahan (11) and Quinn Ostergen (4) signed with the Yankees when the club showcased the Friends of Jaclyn organization during their annual HOPE Week.

The three signed their one-day contracts at the same table that players like Masahiro Tanaka and Brian McCann signed their contracts and even participated in stretching and batting practice before staying in the dugout for a game. Ostegren was the first female to ever sign a professional contract with the Yankees and is still fighting the disease along with her cousin, Tucker. Unfortunately Callahan lost his battle with the disease at age 15 in 2015.

Yankees Sign 10-Year Old Born Without Hands or Legs to One-Day Contract

The New York Yankees strike again as they lead the charge not only on the field but off the field as well. A 10-year old boy named Landis Sims was born without hands or lower legs but that did not stop him from realizing his dream to be a member of the New York Yankees. The team, often called the “Evil Empire” by some in Boston and around the country, signed Sims to a one-day contract this week and invited him to spring training game. The fourth grader watched some of his idols take batting practice and participate in spring camps as a part of the team.

Sims uses a prosthetic, which dons Derek Jeter’s #2 by the way, to play second base in his school in Elizabeth, Indiana and doesn’t let his 4’7” frame slow him down. Landis uses a football shinguard in his glove to field and uses a prosthetic attachment to help him hold the bat while hitting and even played Little League in recent years with the devices.

The best part of it all though? Besides being an inspiration, making a few people cry and living out his lifelong dream? He received a signed bat from Alex Rodriguez that was signed “to a great teammate.” From one inspiration to another. Well done New York, well done. 

Okay People…. Overreact Much?

The New York Yankees have ruffled the feathers of more than a few people by trading for Aroldis Chapman. Why? Chapman has been accused, although the case has been closed and no files were charged by the police to be fair to both sides here, of choking his girlfriend and firing eight rounds into a wall in his garage. Chapman more than likely made his girlfriend a victim of domestic violence and he will be punished for it, either by the league, his friends, family and peers or by his maker, but some people, I think the most accurate word I’ve seen was opportunists, are overreacting just a tad. And when I say a tad I mean a lot.

You can have strong feelings about what he did and you can truly not want the player on the team but some people are taking it to that next level. I have seen people say the Yankees have “sold their souls” in acquiring Chapman and that the organization doesn’t have class anymore. I guess we’re back to being the Evil Empire again in some households. I’ve also seen someone “burn their season tickets” because Chapman was acquired. First and foremost I don’t believe you burned your actual season tickets and secondly how is this hurting the team exactly? What point is this driving home? The Yankees want to sell tickets, they already sold those tickets. Sure you could cancel your subscription for next year but who is that hurting in the long run? Not the Yankees, and certainly not Chapman. No, just you.

Look. You can like a player and you can like this trade and not like the person inside the uniform. The Yankees are not the first to acquire someone with a troubled past or history and the Yankees won’t be the last. Who cares about the tradition and the class and all that jazz. The goal is, was and always will be winning and Chapman gives the team a great chance to win. That’s Brian Cashman’s job, to put a winning team on the field the best he can with the resources and finances that Hal Steinbrenner gives him.

I hate what Chapman did, and I’m sure most people do. My mother was a victim of domestic violence and I saw it first hand on more than one occasion. I’m sensitive to the subject but as a spiritual person I also believe that it’s not my place to judge him. The league will judge him and his maker will judge him. As a fan I root for the team to win and I root for anyone and everyone wearing the pinstripes. There’s a line that separates the man wearing the uniform and the player and some are crossing that line a bit much. Be pissed off, voice your opinion, etc. but it’s not fair to be criticized for my own opinion when I never once criticized you for yours.

Everyone. Chill. These things have a way of working themselves out in the end. This will to. Stay well. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/24: Jose Contreras, Santa Claus & the Evil Empire

On this day in 2002 the Yankees officially got the moniker the "Evil Empire" from the Boston Red Sox when they reached an agreement with free agent Jose Contreras. The 31 year old right handed Cuban defector would sign a four year deal.


Also it is highly unreported that on this day George Steinbrenner bought Santa Claus from the North Pole for season tickets to the new Yankee Stadium.

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins 8/19

The New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins will finish off their three game set this afternoon in a day game at Yankee Stadium. This series has been fun to watch but it’s been costly for the Yankees after the team lost Bryan Mitchell to a nasal fracture and Mark Teixeira for a few days with a leg bruise while the entire bullpen has been spent and overworked once again. The Yankees need length and they need a laugher and unfortunately the team is only likely to get one of those two scenarios this afternoon with Nathan Eovaldi on the mound. Eovaldi has pitched well lately and the Yankees give him almost seven runs of support per game but length is not his specialty. Opposing Eovaldi in the Bronx this afternoon is Ervin Santana for the Twins. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

• Eovaldi has received amazing run support this season and has given the Yankees 12 victories in return to just two losses. Eovaldi has not given the Yankees much length this season but his longest start of the year came back on July 26^th against these same Minnesota Twins where he pitched eight innings allowing just two runs and eight hits.

• Santana has not looked stellar in many of his eight starts since returning from his 80-game steroid suspension. Santana has allowed five or more runs in four of those starts causing his ERA to rise all the way to 5.66. Santana will knock the rust off eventually, I just hope that it isn’t this afternoon against the Yankees.

The Yankees will stay home tomorrow to begin a four game series with those pesky Cleveland Indians in the Bronx. New York also continues HOPE Week this week thus proving that the team truly is the “Evil Empire,” a moniker given to them by the Boston Red Sox in the mid-2000’s. I just want to take a second before the game to attempt to put into words how proud I am to be a fan of this team, especially during HOPE Week. Anyway, Go Yankees!

This Day in New York Yankees History 4/16: Sweet Caroline & the Evil Empire

On this day in 2013 the Yankee Stadium fans and the New York Yankees players sang Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline to pay tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Sweet Caroline is the anthem for the Boston Red Sox which makes it significant. Prior to the game with the Arizona Diamondbacks the Yankees displayed their logo alongside the Red Sox logo with the words "United We Stand" on an outside video board.

Evil Empire huh?

Yankees to Pay Education Costs for Both of Rafael Ramos’ Children

I know I am a couple days late on this but with the craziness of the holiday season I am playing catch up a bit on this and my other writing job, my apologies. George Steinbrenner’s Silver Shield Foundation is going to pay for the education of the children of murdered NYPD officer Rafael Ramos. Ramos and Wenjian Lui, who had no children, were brutally murdered in Brooklyn last week while in their patrol car. Steinbrenner’s foundation Chairman William G. Walters announced the foundation would pay for the educational costs early in the week.

Steinbrenner started the foundation 32 year ago and since the organization has paid for over 800 children of fallen servicemen and women to go to school. Ramos’ 13 year old son, Jaden, and son who is in college will have a free ride for as long as their education takes them and that is a heartwarming story despite the circumstances. By no means does this make up for, replace or help with the tragic event that occurred but it is one less thing to worry about for the family and sometimes you cannot put a price on piece of mind.

So Merry Christmas from the Evil Empire and the New York Yankees and our thoughts, prayers and warmest wishes go out to the families, friends and all those affected by this horrible act. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/24: Jose Contreras, Santa Claus & the Evil Empire

On this day in 2002 the Yankees officially got the moniker the "Evil Empire" from the Boston Red Sox when they reached an agreement with free agent Jose Contreras. The 31 year old right handed Cuban defector would sign a four year deal.

Also it is highly unreported that on this day George Steinbrenner bought Santa Claus from the North Pole for season tickets to the new Yankee Stadium.

Joe Girardi Does Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS, Yankees Donate $100,000

The Yankees donated $100,000 to ALS Association and Joe Girardi participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge today.
— David Waldstein (@DavidWaldstein) August 27, 2014

The Evil Empire

Joe Girardi #ALSIceBucketChallenge

This Day In New York Yankees History 4/16

On this day in 2013 the Yankee Stadium fans and the New York Yankees players sang Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline to pay tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Sweet Caroline is the anthem for the Boston Red Sox which makes it significant. Prior to the game with the Arizona Diamondbacks the Yankees displayed their logo along side the Red Sox logo with the words "United We Stand" on an outside video board.

Evil Empire huh?

Happy Jackie Robinson Day for the Yankees and their fans, hopefully for real this time.

Yankees Donate $50,000 To Harlem Explosion Victims

The New York Yankees have been referred to as the Evil Empire by the Boston Red Sox and by ESPN time and time again but still continue to do the right thing. The Yankees have never been shy about donating money when others are in need, see Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy for instance, and today the organization donated $50,000 to the victims of the Harlem building bombing. The Red Cross will receive the money that will help with the rebuilding of the building that exploded and took the life of eight people and injured at least 70 more.

The New York City Football Club, an MLS team co-owned by the Yankees, have also donated an additional $15,000 to raise the donation to a big $65,000. So much for an evil empire huh?