Rookie of the Year Offical Voting

I mentioned in a prior post that Neftali Feliz and Buster Posey won the AL and NL Rookie of the Year Awards. Here is the official voting.

Fomer Yankees prospect Austin Jackson (98) finished second in the AL while another former prospect Jose Tabata garnered one vote in the NL.

Player	1st	2nd	3rd	Pts
Neftali Feliz, TEX	20	7	1	122
Austin Jackson, DET	8	19	1	98
Danny Valencia, MIN		1	9	12
Wade Davis, TB			11	11
John Jaso, TB		1		3
Brennan Boesch, DET			3	3
Brian Matusz, BAL			3	3

Player	1st	2nd	3rd	Pts
Buster Posey, SF	20	9	2	129
Jason Heyward, ATL	9	20	2	107
Jaime Garcia, STL	1	1	16	24
Gaby Sanchez, FLA	2	1	5	18
Neil Walker, PIT		1		3
Starlin Castro, CHC			3	3
Ike Davis, NYM			2	2
Jose Tabata, PIT			1	1
Jonny Venters, ATL			1	1

The Daily Yankeeland - 3/27

The Yankees play the Reds in Tampa this evening at 7:15 EDT. The game is on WABC radio so you can hear the melodic voice of one John Sterling. CC Sabathia gets the start and Mariano Rivera will be making another appearance.

George Steinbrenner will be at the Yankees home opener, according to a source in the know. King George hasn't been at the Stadium since last season's All-Star game.

Peter Abraham of the Journal News reports that it will cost $19 to park at the new Stadium and the new Metro North station won't be ready for the first home stand.

To promote his new album, Bernie Williams sat down for an interview with Entertainment Weekly magazine. Among his revelations, Derek Jeter hated when Bernie played his guitar on team bus rides or airplane flights.

The NY Times' Richard Sandomir has a profile of Yankees veep/bulldog Randy Levine.

“Part of Randy likes to fight,” said Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner. “He has a history of not backing down. He likes to be the bad cop. I’m the good cop.”

You may have read the other day that the wife of former Yankees prospect Jose Tabata was arrested after abducting a new born. The story gets even stranger. A stunned Tabata, who is 20 years younger than his wife, thinks she also lied to him about a number of things, including being pregnant. Click here to read Tabata's full statement.

Time to get your priorities in order, Hanley Ramirez. The Yankees have long had a dress code that includes no facial hair, other than a mustache, no earrings, and no long hair. The Florida Marlins recently instituted a similar policy, causing Ramirez to go ballistic after getting his hair cut.

"After the star shortstop was forced to shear his long locks, he strolled through the clubhouse sharing his opinion of the new fashion rules across his chest, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

"I'm sick of this s---," the message read, in thick Sharpie letters. "I'm angry," Ramirez said. "I want to be traded." Ramirez was not only forced to cut off his cornrows under the new policy, he also won't be allowed to wear jewelry while playing.

"It's incredible," he said later. "We're big-leaguers."

Ramirez eventually cooled down after a talk with team officials and said everything was cool.

The Daily Yankeeland - 8/18

Melky Cabrera played his first game for Scranton on Sunday, going 1-1 with four walks. The walk total is significant since he had only walked four times in total for the Yankees since June 27.

George Willis of the Post says Derek Jeter shows the way.

Telling us something we don't know, the Steinbrenners plan to spend this off-season.

MLB.com's Jack O'Connell looks at how much Yogi Berra is a part of Yankee Stadium.

Maybe Jose Tabata needed a wake up call and/or a fresh start. Dealt as part of the Xavier Nady/ Damaso Marte deal, Tabata has been on fire for the Pirates organization. He was 5-11 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI, in an injury rehab assignment, in four Gulf Coast League games, and his hitting .359-1-5 in nine games for Altoona of the Eastern League. His .903 OPS is 273 points higher than the mark he had put together for Trenton.

The Yankees have added Victor Zambrano to the roster at Trenton.

The Daily Yankeeland - 8/18

Melky Cabrera played his first game for Scranton on Sunday, going 1-1 with four walks. The walk total is significant since he had only walked four times in total for the Yankees since June 27.

George Willis of the Post says Derek Jeter shows the way.

Telling us something we don't know, the Steinbrenners plan to spend this off-season.

MLB.com's Jack O'Connell looks at how much Yogi Berra is a part of Yankee Stadium.

Maybe Jose Tabata needed a wake up call and/or a fresh start. Dealt as part of the Xavier Nady/ Damaso Marte deal, Tabata has been on fire for the Pirates organization. He was 5-11 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI, in an injury rehab assignment, in four Gulf Coast League games, and his hitting .359-1-5 in nine games for Altoona of the Eastern League. His .903 OPS is 273 points higher than the mark he had put together for Trenton.

The Yankees have added Victor Zambrano to the roster at Trenton.

Quick to the Bat Poll

We cut the the bat poll short since the Yankees acquired Xavier Nady on Friday night. "Funnily" enough, 8 more of you filled out the poll before we closed it, with 3 selecting "Blake or Nady". Ironically, Blake was dealt yesterday as well to the LA Dodgers.

So now we want to know what you think of the trade. We don't agree with Pa Yankee, John Sterling, that it was phenomenal, but it was very good.

Nady has been overhyped due to the season he's having, but he's a serviceable outfielder, who could take over in right field next season for Bobby Abreu.

Marte, of course, has been an outstanding set up man in his career, and even part time closer this year, with the White Sox and Pirates. (Note to ESPN's Larry Hardesty, who was on 1050 with Jody Mac yesterday. Marte pitched 4 seasons with the White Sox, so you don't have to wonder if his stuff will translate to the AL. Your a professional, do you homework.)

Jose Tabata could be the real deal, but at 19 he's still a good ways from the majors. He's had a balky wrist issue, and maybe more important, maturity issues.

Jeff Karstens is mediocre, Dan McCutchen may or may not be good, and Ross Ohlendorf could still turn into a decent pitcher, though we think losing him is no biggie.

So what do you think? Quick, to the trade poll, Robin. Boy that was stupid.

Quick to the Bat Poll

We cut the the bat poll short since the Yankees acquired Xavier Nady on Friday night. "Funnily" enough, 8 more of you filled out the poll before we closed it, with 3 selecting "Blake or Nady". Ironically, Blake was dealt yesterday as well to the LA Dodgers.

So now we want to know what you think of the trade. We don't agree with Pa Yankee, John Sterling, that it was phenomenal, but it was very good.

Nady has been overhyped due to the season he's having, but he's a serviceable outfielder, who could take over in right field next season for Bobby Abreu.

Marte, of course, has been an outstanding set up man in his career, and even part time closer this year, with the White Sox and Pirates. (Note to ESPN's Larry Hardesty, who was on 1050 with Jody Mac yesterday. Marte pitched 4 seasons with the White Sox, so you don't have to wonder if his stuff will translate to the AL. Your a professional, do you homework.)

Jose Tabata could be the real deal, but at 19 he's still a good ways from the majors. He's had a balky wrist issue, and maybe more important, maturity issues.

Jeff Karstens is mediocre, Dan McCutchen may or may not be good, and Ross Ohlendorf could still turn into a decent pitcher, though we think losing him is no biggie.

So what do you think? Quick, to the trade poll, Robin. Boy that was stupid.

Breaking News: Yankees Acquire Nady and Marte

SI's Jon Heyman is reporting that the Yankees have acquired right-handed hitting outfielder Xavier Nady and lefty set up man Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Jose Tabata, and pitchers Ross Ohlendorf and Phil Coke, and another minor league prospect.

The Yankees have not made an official announcement yet and all players will have to clear physicals.

Update 8:25 PM EDT

According to mlb.com, the 4th player is believed to be pitcher George Kontos.

Breaking News: Yankees Acquire Nady and Marte

SI's Jon Heyman is reporting that the Yankees have acquired right-handed hitting outfielder Xavier Nady and lefty set up man Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Jose Tabata, and pitchers Ross Ohlendorf and Phil Coke, and another minor league prospect.

The Yankees have not made an official announcement yet and all players will have to clear physicals.

Update 8:25 PM EDT

According to mlb.com, the 4th player is believed to be pitcher George Kontos.

Minor League Recap - 7/2

Games of 7/1

The Scranton Yankees came from behind to top the Buffalo Bisons 5-2. Ross Ohlendorf made his first start for the Yankees, allowing 1 run in 3 innings pitched. The Yankees trailed 2-0 until tying it in the 6th inning on a Justin Christian 2-run home run. Then it was red hot J.D. Closser striking in the 7th with a 3-run home run, his second in as many games. J.B. Cox pitched 2 scoreless frames for the win.

Chad Jennings reported that Justin Christian has been named to the Triple-A All-Star Team. Austin Jackson, Chris Malec, PJ Pilittere and Jason Jones have been named to the Double-A All-Star squad.

Shelley Duncan will getting checked out today for a possible separated shoulder.

	July 1, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Buffalo 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 8 0 Scranton/WB 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 X 5 7 0 Recap | Box | W: J. Cox (3-2, 1.59); L: J. Rincon (0-1, 16.20); SV: S. Strickland (2) HR: SWB: J. Christian (5), J. Closser (2).

The Trenton Thunder lost the first game of their three game series with the Portland SeaDogs 4-1. The Thunder fell behind early, as George Kontos got tagged for 3 runs in the 1st inning. Zach Kroenke and Eric Wordekemper did a good job keeping the Thunder in the game over the final 4 innings, but Trenton could manage only a single run after an Austin Jackson double in the 8th.

Mike Ashmore reported that Jose Tabata had to leave the game with a possible hamstring issue. It was later reported as a cramp, but he's not expected to play today. Carlos Mendoza also had to leave the game after being hit in the leg by a pitch.

	July 1, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Portland 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 6 2 Trenton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 8 2 Recap | Box | W: K. Johnson (7-3, 3.09); L: G. Kontos (3-8, 3.39); SV: B. Vaughan (10) HR: None.

19-yr old Deolis Guerra, acquired from the Mets in the Johan Santana deal, shut out the Tampa Yankees on just 3 hits as the Ft. Myers Miracle won 4-0. Phil Bartleski was the lone bright spot for Tampa. The 25-yr old reliever has allowed just 3 earned runs in 27.1 innings this season, with 33 strikeouts. He's also walked just 9 hitters.

	July 1, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Tampa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Fort Myers 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 X 4 9 2 Recap | Box W: D. Guerra (8-4, 4.32); L: G. Duff (1-5, 3.27) HR: None.

The Charleston RiverDogs had their 3-game winning streak snapped as the Savannah Sand Gnats salvaged the finale of the 4-game series with a 7-0 win. Lance Pendleton was tagged with 4 earned runs in 4 innings pitched. Austin Krum had 2 of the RiverDogs 6 hits and also added a walk.

	July 1, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Savannah 0 0 1 4 0 1 0 1 0 7 12 0 Charleston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 Recap | Box | W: J. Stinson (2-4, 2.96); L: L. Pendleton (6-4, 2.64); SV: N. Abel (1) HR: SAV: C. Guzman (4), G. Veloz (4).

Staten Island was out hit 9-6, but beat the Aberdeen IronBirds 9-4. Dan Brewer drove in 2 runs and Walt Ibarra had an RBI and a pair of runs scored. Andy Shive picked up his first win of the year.

	July 1, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Aberdeen 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 9 3 Staten Island 0 0 0 5 0 0 4 0 X 9 6 2 Recap | Box W: A. Shive (1-2, 3.09); L: A. Odom (1-2, 3.24) HR: None.

The GCL Yankees dropped a 6-2 decision to the GCL Indians as Rich Martinez was tagged for a pair of home runs.

	July 1, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E GCL Yankees 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 1 GCL Indians 0 0 1 0 2 2 1 0 X 6 9 1 Recap | Box W: T. McFarland (1-1, 3.14); L: R. Martinez (0-1, 5.14) HR: IND: A. Abreu (2), A. Rodriguez (1).