Yankees Daily

Bernie Williams talks about his music, life after baseball and the 2009 Yankees championship team.

He says music is harder than baseball and that the Yankee teams he was on didn’t have the star power the 2009 New York Yankees had.

Austin Jackson is set to be the lead off hitter for Detroit when they start their exhibition season. He’ll also start the season as their center-fielder.

I’ll tell ya, I’ll be pretty annoyed if he becomes a star and Curtis Granderson becomes only serviceable for the Yankees.

Aaron Boone always wanted to be a big-league broadcaster. Looks like his dream is coming to reality because he’ll be working for ESPN as an analyst.

Who will ever forget his dramatic hit off Tim Wakefield in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 2003 AL Championship Series. Even though the Yankees lost the World Series that year, I’ll never forget that hit. It was awesome.

He had heart surgery last March. I can feel for him because I know how it feels to have a bad heart.

I wonder how he would call his own home run?

No, John Wetteland is still alive but according to the Associated Press, he might of tried to commit suicide Thursday night.

It didn’t make me feel good when I read that. I felt like it was some one dear to me. There was a call from his home to the authorities about his blood pressure and heart rate. A woman at John Wetteland’s home told the authorities that he was contemplating suicide.

The New York Post reported when officers arrived, Wetteland walked out with his hands up, saying he “needed help.”

I read a comment at one of the websites that was discussing this and some one replied, “Roids can do that to you.” It seemed that the person was trying to be funny or a jerk but as I sat down looking at the situation, it could be true. Of course, as Yankee fans, we can’t put anything past anyone when it comes to steroids. If Jesus Christ came back to earth and claimed he took steroids to help him use his healing powers, I’d believe it.

I hear steroids can drive people to suicide and make them feel depressed. I’m not a doctor so I’m not going to get into the whole, John Wetteland tried to commit suicide because he took steroids sort of thing. I’m really sick and tired of steroid stories so let’s leave it at that.

Maybe he’s depressed because he’s not relevant anymore since the Yankees won another world series title. That “could” be the case but I’m not going to give that credence.

John Wetteland played more games for Montreal, L.A. Dodgers and the Texas Rangers than for the Yankees. He only played two years for the Yankees but….

I’m sure, like most of you, he has a special place in your heart for helping the New York Yankees win the 1996 World Series. He’ll always be there. When I think of the dynasty that started for the Yankees in the 90′s, I think of him.

It bothers me that not only was he an ex-Yankee player that tried to commit suicide but a human being. It’s tough in this world. I wish people that contemplate suicide know that there are other ways to cope. You were brought in this world for a reason. No matter how you were born, there is a reason for your existence.

The Bronx zoo lives.

Joe Torre opened up a big can of worms with his new book The Yankee Years and now we get to hear David Wells the drama queen give his opinions. Joe Torre gave David Wells attention which is exactly what Wells wanted. Look at the mess Joe Torre started.

Yesterday, when I read that David Wells blasted his music loud in the clubhouse and wouldn’t lower it after Joe Torre requested him to, it got me a little riled up. I don’t like music nonetheless loud music so I know what an old man like Torre had to go through.

Imagine being in the clubhouse and having to listen to the type of nonsense that David Wells listens too?

If I’m not mistaken, he listens to thrash metal. I could be wrong about the music he listens to but thrash metal is very irritating.

Now we get to hear more from David Wells, the player who quit in the first inning of game 5 of the 2003 World Series which might of cost us the championship. This is the same guy who said he was drunk during his perfect game.

Today, I read about him here, here and here. I don’t like the fact that the NY sports writers are writing about Wells because I feel he doesn’t deserve all this attention. You know David Wells is eating all the attention up and eating is a good word for it.

David Wells, not only should you shut your moronic music off, you should also shut your trap.

What gets me however is that some of the Yankee players might use Joe Torre’s book as a rallying cry but they don’t have a leg to stand on.

The current Yankees are losers. They haven’t won since 2000 so I don’t want to hear from them either. Maybe if the Yankees won, we wouldn’t be going through all of this drama.

Maybe if we didn’t have a player like A-Rod who likes to “girlie slap” the ball away from the pitcher after hitting a “dribbler” down the first base line and actually comes through in the clutch, there wouldn’t be a book from Joe Torre.

Maybe if former Yankee Kevin Brown didn’t fall apart in Game 7 of the 2004 American League Championship Series and last only two innings, there wouldn’t be a book from Joe Torre.

All of the criticism Joe Torre shot towards the Yankees in his new book is warranted but actually “breaking the code” and becoming a punk is not cool in “my book.”

The Goose

Goose Gossage only led the league in saves 3 times in his playing career and never had more than 33 saves in a season. This Sunday Gossage will join the Baseball Hall Of Fame and will be the only fifth reliever elected. The writer believes that he was elected for the way he altered the game and that he terrified hitters with wildness to keep hitters honest. “When I came into the game he was the best,” said Gibson, who joined the Tigers for good in 1979. “He got on the mound and I don’t even think he took signs. He just nodded and said, ‘Here it comes.’ He’d wind up, his arm would come back and he would just fire it. It was the hardest ball I’d ever seen.”

• Gossage elected for impact on game - Barry M. Bloom – Major League Baseball Official Website
• Goose Interview(YankeeVideo) - Yankees Official Website

Bobby Murcer dies

It’s a sad day for his family and friends. He seemed like such a fun guy to be around.

• Bobby Murcer was prince of our city - Mike Lupica – NY Daily News
• Until the very end, Bobby Murcer showed ‘heart of a champion’ - NY Daily News
• Boss calls Murcer ‘a born Yankee’ - NY Daily News
• Against all odds, Bobby Murcer taught us to keep believing - Bob Raissman – NY Daily News
• Politi: Bobby Murcer was “the best teammate” – Steve Politi – Star – Ledger
• Baseball world saddened by Murcer passing - Peter Abraham – Journal News
• MLB.com Tribute to Bobby Murcer(video) - Yankees Official

• Bobby Murcer Book signing(video) - YesNetwork
• Post Game Plus Bobby Murcer(video) - YesNetwork
• Derek Jeter on Bobby Murcer(video) - Yesnetwork
• A-Rod on Bobby Murcer(video) – YesNetwork
• Andy Pettitte on Bobby Murcer(video) - YesNetwork
• Mariano Rivera on Bobby Murcer(video) - YesNetwork
• Jorge Posada on Bobby Murcer(video) - YesNetwork

• Murcer’s heroic game(video) - YesNetwork
• Mike and the Mad Dog talk to Murcer(video) - YesNetwork

Bobby Murcer is still recovering from a brain biopsy and won’t be part of the broadcast team on opening day for the YesNetwork. He still intends to attend the game but he won’t be broadcasting.

• MURCER TO MISS OPENER – JUSTIN TERRANOVA – NY Post

Graig Nettles, the all star third baseman for the Yankees in the 1970′s, found out he had prostate cancer the day before Thanksgiving and will have prostate surgery April 8th at Manhattan’s Sloan Kettering Hospital. Craig Nettles is 63 years old.

• NETTLES BATTLING CANCER – GEORGE A. KING III – NY Post
• Nettles hopeful after prostate cancer diagnosis – Kat O’Brien – Newsday
• Graig Nettles career stats – Baseball-Reference.com

Tino Martinez, The Yankee first baseman from the last Yankees dynasty said that he would be interested in coaching again. Since joining the New York Yankees as a special instructor this spring, Tino has realized that he would like to be on a major-league coaching staff someday. Shelley Duncan likes working with Tino Martinez because Tino throws right handed just like Shelley and it’s easier to relate.

• Former First Baseman Wants Full-Time Job – JIM BAUMBACH – Newsday
• Tino Martinez Stats – Baseball-Reference.com