Yankees Make Capitol Gains

The Yankees made the much ballyhooed trip to the White House yesterday for a meet and greet with the President. It doesn't get much cooler for a ball player than to be invited to the White House.

President Barack Obama lauded the Yankees for their actions both on and off the field, which yesterday included a visit to the Walter Reed Army Hospital.

The President singled out Mark Teixeira for the scholarship he started with his first signing bonus at age 21. It was in remembrance of a close friend who had died in a car accident.

Obama made references to the home of his fellow Illinois favorite son, Joe Girardi, and took a shot from Yankees Assistant GM Jean Afterman about his hometown White Sox.

“Let him hold it,” she said. “He may not get a chance again.”

The President is quick on his feet though...

“And you wonder why the other teams don’t root for you,” he said as the room erupted again.

A good time had by all.

Below is video from yesterday's event.

Yankees vs. Orioles - 4/8

The Yankees and Orioles go at it again tonight at 7:05 pm. Chien-Ming Wang makes his first start since shredding his right foot last June against the Astros. Koji Uehara makes his first major league start after a successful career in Japan.

One player that knows Uehara very well is his former teammate Hideki Matsui. The Yankees DH and the Orioles starter won two championships as members of the Yomiuri Giants, including Matsui's last year in Japan (2002). That same year, Matsui (MVP) and Uehara (Japan's version of the CY Young) won the top individual honors.

Tyler Kepner of the NY Times has more on the former teammates who are still friends.

The Yankees used their day off on Tuesday to visit the White House. The trip was arranged by former press secretary, and Yankees fan, Ari Fleischer.

Players Joba Chamberlain, Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher, Jonathan Albaladejo, Phil Coke, Ramiro Pena, Edwar Ramirez, Cody Ransom and Jose Veras, and coaches Kevin Long, Dave Eiland, Mike Harkey, Mick Kelleher and Rob Thomson were in attendance.

And finally to all of our fellow Yankees fans who think the season is already over...shut up..seriously..shut up.