Senior VP Mark Newman Honored

Yankees Senior VP of Baseball Operations Mark Newman has been honored by minor league baseball with the Chief Bender Award.

Here's the official press release:

Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award: Mark Newman, New York Yankees Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations

The Bender Award is presented to someone with distinguished service who has been instrumental in player development. Newman recently completed his 11th season of overseeing the drafting and acquisition of prospects for the Yankees. Entering the 2010 season, more than half of the players on the club's 40-man roster were either drafted or signed as non-drafted free agents.

"There are some exceptional people that are in this industry that do great work," Newman remarked. "I always assume some other people deserve recognition. I am certainly honored by it, but surprised."

"Mark Newman's résumé is virtually unparalleled in player development," Minor League Baseball President Pat O'Conner said. "The success of the Yankees farm system is often overshadowed by their storied success at the Major League level. You cannot overlook the long list of league championships and Major League players produced under Mark Newman's watch with the Yankees. Mark epitomizes the characteristics of Chief Bender in producing players and a winning atmosphere for the organization."

Newman has been with the Yankees for 22 years. He joined the organization in 1989 as Coordinator of Instruction, responsible for supervising all Minor League managers and coaches and planning Major and Minor League spring training.

He was promoted to Director of Player Development and Scouting in 1996 and then to Vice President of Player Development and Scouting a year later.

Oakland Director of Player Development Keith Lieppman received the award last year. Minnesota Twins Senior Director of Minor League Operations Jim Rantz was honored as the first Bender Award recipient in 2008.

The Daily Yankeeland - 2/11

Believe it or not, there is stuff going on besides the A-Rod fiasco.

Chad Jennings, who covers the Scranton Yankees, had a talk with Mark Newman and has a great run down of where some of the prospects will be playing and what is expected of them.

Mark Feinsand of the Daily News has some more on Yankees prospects, including Jesus Montero, the Yankees heir to Jorge Posada.

Back to A-Rod for one minute. Tom Hicks, owner of the Rangers..please shut your pie-hole. Seriously. In case you haven't heard, Hicks said he felt betrayed and deceived by A-Rod. Your entire team was rampant with steroids and you didn't care. Don't make it sound like you did.

No need for Frank McCourt to worry about his future reading list. The Dodgers owner putting a clause in Joe Torre's contract, forbidding a tell all.

Newly signed Mark Teixeira has made a half-million $ endowment to his college baseball team, Georgia Tech.

The Joba impersonator got off light.

The Yankees lost prospect Reegie Corona, in the recent Rule V draft, to the Mariners. The M's like him.

Reggie Corona: A Rule 5 Draft selection out of the Yankees' organization, the 22-year-old Corona hasn't played higher than Double-A. The switch-hitter is best known for his speed (24 stolen bases last season) and defense. "We're excited about giving this kid a chance," Zduriencik said. "He can run, play the infield and has a little bit of a bat. When you put together a team, you have to have a guy like this."

Former Yankee pitcher Jim Abbott will have his number retired by the U. of Michigan on April 18.

Minor League Recap - 7/10

Games of 7/9

Scranton lost in the bottom of the 9th, 2-1, to the Toledo Mud Hens, but Al Aceves made his Triple-A debut. Back from a strained groin, Aceves, working on a strict pitch count, allowed no runs, 2 hits, walked none, and struck out 2. The Mud Hens scored the game winner against Kei Igawa, who threw a solid 5.1 innings. The Yankees had 8 hits, 3 by Juan Miranda, but push across just the one run.

Chad Jennings reports that Cody Ransom will take Justin Christian's place in the International League All-Star game. Ransom is hitting just .257, but has 14 home runs and 48 RBI in 86 games.

The Yankees open a series tonight against their former affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, and will face former Yankee Tyler Clippard.

	July 9, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Scranton/WB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 8 1 Toledo 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 9 0 Recap | Box | W: F. Cruceta (2-1, 3.63); L: K. Igawa (8-5, 3.80) HR: TOL: T. Perez (10).

The Trenton Thunder took an early 2-0 lead, but couldn't hold on, and lost to the Altoona Curve 6-2. Starter Phil Coke took the loss after allowing 3 runs in 6 innings pitched. Mark Melancon allowed the final 4 runs, of which just 1 was earned, in 2.1 innings. P.J. Pillitere had 2 of the 5 Thunder hits and drove in a run.

Thunder beat writer Mike Ashmore had a chance to converse with Mark Newman recently.

	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Altoona 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 7 9 2 Trenton 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 2 Recap | Box | W: K. Bloom (1-4, 4.57); L: P. Coke (7-4, 2.96); SV: J. Mateo (1) HR: ALT: J. Boone (7).

Tampa and St. Lucie were able to get in one of their two scheduled games on Wednesday. St. Lucie won it 3-0, holding the Yankees to just 4 hits for their 8th straight loss. Ivan Nova put together a decent outing (5.2 IP 2 ER 6 K), but dropped to 3-11.

	July 9, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E St. Lucie 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3 8 1 Tampa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 Recap | Box W: D. Owen (7-6, 3.83); L: I. Nova (3-11, 4.84) HR: None.

Austin Krum's 8th inning single snapped a 4-4 tie and gave the Charleston RiverDogs a 5-4 win over the Lexington Legends. David Williams went 3-3 and scored the game winner. Jesus Montero chipped in with his 9th home run of the season.

Dellin Betances made the start for the Dogs, allowing just 1 earned run and 2 hits in 5 innings, but he did walk 5. Chace Vacek earned the win with help from Jon Ortiz, who picked up his 23rd save.

July 9, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Lexington 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 4 7 1 Charleston 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 X 5 11 2 Recap | Box | W: C. Vacek (4-3, 4.23); L: F. Abad (1-4, 3.70); SV: J. Ortiz (23) HR: CHA: J. Montero (9).

Staten Island's defense was just out and out ugly last night. Defense probably isn't even the word to use after the Baby Bombers committed 7 errors. It contributed to 5 unearned runs as the Yankees fell 5-4 to the Oneonta Tigers. It overshadowed a good effort by starter Luke Greinke, who allowed 3 hits over 4 innings, didn't walk a batter and struck out 2. David Adams, mired in a 4-34 slump, was 4-5 with 2 RBI.

	July 9, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Oneonta 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 5 10 2 Staten Island 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 4 12 7 Recap | Box W: M. Brackman (1-1, 7.71); L: L. Greinke (0-2, 1.53); SV: T. Stohr (7) HR: None.

Tough night for the GCL Yankees, who lost a pair to the Blue Jays. Toronto's rookie team took the opener in 11 innings, scoring 2 unearned runs for a 2-0 win. Yankees 17-yr old starter Manuel Banuelos threw no-hit ball over 5 innings.

The Yankees lack of hitting continued in the second game as they lost 5-1. Yunior Tabares hit his first home run for the lone Yankees run.

July 9, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E GCL Blue Jays 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 4 0 GCL Yankees 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 Recap | Box W: J. Potts (3-0, 1.42); L: G. Tatis (0-1, 8.10) HR: None.

	July 9, 2008 Game 2
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E GCL Yankees 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 1 GCL Blue Jays 2 2 1 0 0 0 X 5 8 0 Recap | Box W: J. Cuotto (1-1, 3.32); L: A. Vizcaino (2-1, 4.50) HR: YAN: Y. Tabares (1). BLU: R. Diaz (2), L. Fernandez (1).

Minor League Recap - 7/10

Games of 7/9

Scranton lost in the bottom of the 9th, 2-1, to the Toledo Mud Hens, but Al Aceves made his Triple-A debut. Back from a strained groin, Aceves, working on a strict pitch count, allowed no runs, 2 hits, walked none, and struck out 2. The Mud Hens scored the game winner against Kei Igawa, who threw a solid 5.1 innings. The Yankees had 8 hits, 3 by Juan Miranda, but push across just the one run.

Chad Jennings reports that Cody Ransom will take Justin Christian's place in the International League All-Star game. Ransom is hitting just .257, but has 14 home runs and 48 RBI in 86 games.

The Yankees open a series tonight against their former affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, and will face former Yankee Tyler Clippard.

	July 9, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Scranton/WB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 8 1 Toledo 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 9 0 Recap | Box | W: F. Cruceta (2-1, 3.63); L: K. Igawa (8-5, 3.80) HR: TOL: T. Perez (10).

The Trenton Thunder took an early 2-0 lead, but couldn't hold on, and lost to the Altoona Curve 6-2. Starter Phil Coke took the loss after allowing 3 runs in 6 innings pitched. Mark Melancon allowed the final 4 runs, of which just 1 was earned, in 2.1 innings. P.J. Pillitere had 2 of the 5 Thunder hits and drove in a run.

Thunder beat writer Mike Ashmore had a chance to converse with Mark Newman recently.

	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Altoona 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 7 9 2 Trenton 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 2 Recap | Box | W: K. Bloom (1-4, 4.57); L: P. Coke (7-4, 2.96); SV: J. Mateo (1) HR: ALT: J. Boone (7).

Tampa and St. Lucie were able to get in one of their two scheduled games on Wednesday. St. Lucie won it 3-0, holding the Yankees to just 4 hits for their 8th straight loss. Ivan Nova put together a decent outing (5.2 IP 2 ER 6 K), but dropped to 3-11.

	July 9, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E St. Lucie 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3 8 1 Tampa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 Recap | Box W: D. Owen (7-6, 3.83); L: I. Nova (3-11, 4.84) HR: None.

Austin Krum's 8th inning single snapped a 4-4 tie and gave the Charleston RiverDogs a 5-4 win over the Lexington Legends. David Williams went 3-3 and scored the game winner. Jesus Montero chipped in with his 9th home run of the season.

Dellin Betances made the start for the Dogs, allowing just 1 earned run and 2 hits in 5 innings, but he did walk 5. Chace Vacek earned the win with help from Jon Ortiz, who picked up his 23rd save.

July 9, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Lexington 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 4 7 1 Charleston 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 X 5 11 2 Recap | Box | W: C. Vacek (4-3, 4.23); L: F. Abad (1-4, 3.70); SV: J. Ortiz (23) HR: CHA: J. Montero (9).

Staten Island's defense was just out and out ugly last night. Defense probably isn't even the word to use after the Baby Bombers committed 7 errors. It contributed to 5 unearned runs as the Yankees fell 5-4 to the Oneonta Tigers. It overshadowed a good effort by starter Luke Greinke, who allowed 3 hits over 4 innings, didn't walk a batter and struck out 2. David Adams, mired in a 4-34 slump, was 4-5 with 2 RBI.

	July 9, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Oneonta 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 5 10 2 Staten Island 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 4 12 7 Recap | Box W: M. Brackman (1-1, 7.71); L: L. Greinke (0-2, 1.53); SV: T. Stohr (7) HR: None.

Tough night for the GCL Yankees, who lost a pair to the Blue Jays. Toronto's rookie team took the opener in 11 innings, scoring 2 unearned runs for a 2-0 win. Yankees 17-yr old starter Manuel Banuelos threw no-hit ball over 5 innings.

The Yankees lack of hitting continued in the second game as they lost 5-1. Yunior Tabares hit his first home run for the lone Yankees run.

July 9, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E GCL Blue Jays 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 4 0 GCL Yankees 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 Recap | Box W: J. Potts (3-0, 1.42); L: G. Tatis (0-1, 8.10) HR: None.

	July 9, 2008 Game 2
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E GCL Yankees 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 1 GCL Blue Jays 2 2 1 0 0 0 X 5 8 0 Recap | Box W: J. Cuotto (1-1, 3.32); L: A. Vizcaino (2-1, 4.50) HR: YAN: Y. Tabares (1). BLU: R. Diaz (2), L. Fernandez (1).