Hellickson threw 189 innings and finished 13-10, 2.95. He had a very good 1.153 WHIP and a 4.2 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). He allowed just 146 hits and averaged just one home run allowed per nine innings. Hellickson joined teammate Evan Longoria (2008) as the only Rays to win the ROY Award.

Kimbrel was a strikeout machine in his freshman year in the ATL. He led the league with 46 saves and averaged 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He also led the NL in games finished (64), while he compiled a 4-3, 2.10 mark and earned a place on the NL All-Star team. Kimbrel is the first Brave to win the award since Rafael Furcal took top rookie honors in 2000. Other franchise winners are David Justice (2000), Bob Horner (1978), and Earl Williams (1971).

It was the first time since Fernando Valenzuela (LAD) and Dave Righetti (NYY) were Rookie of the Year winners in 1981, that the league’s two awards went to pitchers in the same year.

Below is the complete results of this year’s vote.

Drew Sarver is a senior writer  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and can be followed on Twitter at @BD_Sarver and @MyPinstripes.

Champion of the Winter Meetings: The Boston Red Sox clearly claim this title.  First they swung a deal to bring the powerful bat of Adrian Gonzalez to Beantown and then signed the speedy Carl Crawford to a free agent deal. Post winter meetings, GM Theo Epstein has worked on stocking the bullpen. He’s added Bobby Jenks, Dan Wheeler, and Matt Albers and will still look to add another lefty (Felix Doubront is the sole left-hander in the pen at the moment).

Where’d everybody go?: The Tampa Rays knew this would happen, but it still has to be painful for manager Joe Maddon to see his team being dismantled.  Crawford and Wheeler are in Boston. 1st baseman Carlos Pena went to the Chicago Cubs. Shortstop Jason Bartlett was dealt to the Padres. Set up man Joaquin Benoit went to Detroit. Lefty Randy Choate signed with the Marlins.  Brignac will replace Bartlett and there’s still very good starting pitching, but some major holes need to be filled.

Standing Still: The NY Yankees had a chance, but it turns out they never really had a chance, to land Cliff Lee. While Boston’s offense and pen got stronger, the Yankees have been unable to fill their biggest needs, starting pitching and bullpen help. Andy Pettitte has yet to determine if wants to play again. Kerry Wood wanted a sizable “donation” from the Yankees, but instead gave the Cubs a hometown discount.  Jon Rauch should be on the Yankees radar. The Yankees did add a new starting catcher, Russell Martin, with Jorge Posada taking on full time DH duty. It remains to be seen whether or not minor leaguer Jesus Montero will have an impact in 2011.

Oh Canada: The Blue Jays dealt their top starter, Shaun Marcum, for a top 2nd base prospect in the Brewers’ Brett Lawrie.  A good deal for both squads.  The Blue Jays are counting on their stud, Kyle Drabek, to earn a spot in the rotation some time during the 2011 season.

The Jays lost reliable set up man/closer Scott Downs, 1st baseman Lyle Overbay, and catcher John Buck, who enjoyed his best season, to free agency.  As possible additions, the Jays signed 1st baseman Mike Jacobs and outfielder Corey Patterson to minor league deals. It’ll be difficult to compete with those plusses and minuses.

Hot L Baltimore: It’s been a tough off-season for the once proud Orioles. Players just don’t want to sign with a team that has been floundering in the AL East for so long. The O’s did get shortsop J.J. Hardy in a deal with the Twins and slugger/whiffer Mark Reynolds from the Diamondbacks.  The latter deal cost them David Hernandez, but dealing the pitcher for some more offense was worth it.

Rumors, News, and Transactions

The Angels have reportedly dropped out of the running, for now, for 3rd baseman Adrian Beltre. The free agent is demanding a sixth year guaranteed contract.

Brandon Webb is said to be weighing offers, with either the Rangers, Cubs, or Nationals being the right-hander’s final destination.

Drew Sarver is the Yankees content editor and a contributor  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and can be followed on Twitter at @BD_Sarver and @MyPinstripes.

1999-2000: The Seattle Mariners sent icon and future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. to the Cincinnati Reds for Mike Cameron, Antonio Perez, Brett Tomko, and Jake Meyer.

It was the beginning of the end of a magical era in the Emerald City when Junior and Alex Rodriguez were teammates.  For Griffey it was a return to his hometown and team his father won two World Series titles with.  His first season in Cincy was outstanding- 40 home runs, 118 RBI, 100 runs scored, and a .942 OPS.  And of course there was the Gold Glove defense he displayed in centerfield.  But then the injuries started and Griffey was never the same offensive force.  Griffey would play more than 140 games just twice over the final 10 years of his career, which finished where it started in Seattle.

Cameron played four seasons as a Mariner, before leaving as a free agent.  His 16 years in the majors have been marked by solid defense, good power, and many strikeouts.  After two average to below average seasons in Seattle, Tomko was dealt to the Padres and ended his career in 2009 having won 100 games for 11 organizations over 13 years.

2000-2001: The Oakland A’s, Kansas City Royals, and Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays pulled off a three team, seven player swap. The’s The A’s got the better of the deal, receiving Johnny Damon and 2nd baseman Mark Ellis from the Royals. The A’s sent Ben Grieve to the Tampa Bayand Angel Berroa and A.J. Hinch to the Royals. Finally, the  Rays sent Cory Lidle to the Oakland and Roberto Hernandez to the KC.

Damon spent just one season in Oakland, helping the team to the final game of the ALCS before falling to the NY Yankees. He then left for free agency and helped end the the Red Sox World Series drought in 2004.  Damon just completed his 16th season in the bigs and is a free agent.  Ellis has been a steady presence on an Oakland team that has seen much turnover during his eight year career.  The A’s recently picked up Ellis’ option for 2011.

Berroa was rookie of the year for the Royals in 2003, but that was the highlight of his career.  Grieve was also a rookie of the year, but his career became average at best when he played for Tampa and injuries led to a premature end to his career at age 29.  Hernandez had the last two 20-plus save seasons of his career in KC.

2001-2002: Cleveland sent Roberto Alomar, pitcher Michael Bacsik, and minor league Danny Peoples  to the New York Mets for Alex Escobar, Matt Lawton, Jerrod Riggan, Earl Snyder and Billy Traber.

In Alomar, the Mets thought they were getting the offensive and defensive force that helped Toronto to two World Series titles. But the then 34-yr old’s best days were behind and he was dealt away on July 1, 2003.  Lawton had three decent seasons for the Indians, but the trade turned out to be a bust for both sides.

2002 – 2003 Bartolo Colon traded by the Montreal Expos with a minor leaguer to the Chicago White Sox for Rocky Biddle, Orlando Hernandez, Jeff Liefer and cash.

With his contract expiring after the 2003 season, Colon was in much demand during the preceding hot stove.  Chicago won out but not before acquiring Hernandez first from the Yankees for Antonio Osuna and a minor leaguer.

Colon won 15 games, threw 242 innings, and led the AL with nine complete games, and then bolted for a contract with the Angels prior to the 2004 season.  The deal was a disaster for the Expos as Biddle and Liefer were unremarkable players and El Duque missed the entire season with an injury and never wore an Expos uniform.

2003-2004: Alex Rodriguez was on the verge of becoming a member of the Boston Red Sox, but the player’s association would not allow him to restructure his contract to complete the deal.  The Yankees hopped in and sent Alfonso Soriano and Joaquin Arias to Texas for A-Rod.

So began a love/hate relationship between the Yankees fans and A-Rod that hit a low nearly every post-season, but hit an all-time high when A-Rod helped the Yankees to their 27th World Series title in 2009.  Soriano averaged 32 HR, 97 RBI, and 24 steals in two seasons before Texas, fearing a big free agent pay day, dealt him to the Washington Nationals prior to the 2006 season.  In the long run, the deal proved huge for the Yankees and A-Rod’s career.

2004 – 2005 The Oakland A’s were perennial contenders at the turn of the decade due to their fantastic starting rotation.  Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito were a force to be reckoned with.  But all that changed in a matters three days.   On December 16, 2004 GM Billy Beane send Hudson to the Atlanta Braves for Juan Cruz, Dan Meyer and Charles Thomas.  On the 18th, Beane sent Mulder to the St. Louis Cardinals for Daric Barton, Kiko Calero and Dan Haren.

The Hudson deal turned out to be a bust for the A’s.   Hudson has been a stud for Atlanta, while Cruz was dealt after one season. Neither Meyer or Thomas reached their potential.  But the latter deal worked out wonderfully for the Oakland.  Haren has developed into one of the best pitchers in baseball, Barton is the A’s starting 1st baseman, and Calero was a mainstay of the A’s bullen for four years before injury and free agency sent him elsewhere.  Meanwhile, Mulder won 16 games his first year in St. Louis, but a bad hip derailed his career and he didn’t pitch in the majors after 2008.  Though Haren was ultimately dealt, Beane was able to bring back young stars Brett Anderson and Carlos Gonzalez in a trade with Arizona.

The two deals definitely demonstrate the motto, “sometimes you win, sometimes you lose”.

2005 – 2006 The Red Sox knew that Hanley Ramirez was going to be a star, but when they had the opportunity to get Josh Beckett from the Marlins they couldn’t resist.  Even when Florida insisted that the Red Sox take Mike Lowell as part of a salary dump.  In return for Beckett, Lowell, and Guillermo Mota, the Marlins received Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado, and Harvey Garcia.

One year later, the Red Sox were winning their second title in four years, thanks in large part to Beckett’s pitching.  And the World Series MVP was none other than Mike Lowell.  Ramirez has become a star, as expected, in Florida and Sanchez has been a serviceable starter, though he has also been beset by injuries.  He threw a no-hitter in September, 2006. The deal was definitely a win-win for both sides.

2006 – 2007: At the end of the 2006 season the Yankees realized their deal for Randy Johnson prior to the 2005 season did not turn out the way they hoped. Johnson never seemed completely happy, and though he won 17 games both years, his first year was much better than his second. The Unit’s last season in NY saw an ERA of 5.00 and a bad back.  So that January, the Yankees sent Johnson back to Arizona for Ross Ohlendorf, Steven Jackson, Alberto Gonzalez, and Luis Vizcaino.  Johnson struggled through two more pain filled seasons in AZ before playing one final year in San Francisco.  All four players the Yankees received are no longer in the organization.  Sometimes you do get what you pay for.

2007-2008:  Miguel Cabrera was a terror on pitchers in the National League, but the Marlins knew they couldn’t afford to pay him when the time came.   So the Marlins went looking for buyers and on December 4, 2007 traded Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to the Detroit Tigers for Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Dallas Trahern, Burke Badenhop, Eulogio de la Cruz,  and Mike Rabelo.

Cabrera now terrorizes AL pitching to the tune of an eight year, $153.3M contract.  Maybin and Miller were the keys to the deal for Florida, but both were recently dealt after not reaching expectations quickly enough (Maybin) or being continually hurt and ineffective (Miller).

2008-2009: Beane took another big game gamble when he acquired free agent to be Matt Holliday from the Colorado Rockies for Carlos Gonzalez, Greg Smith and Huston Street.  Holliday’s numbers in a half season in Oakland were average due to a spacious ballpark and a weak lineup around him.  He was dealt at the deadline for three prospects, none of which so far have made an impact in the majors (though Brett Wallace was later dealt from Oakland and may get a legitimate shot for playing time in Houston).  Gonzalez has developed into a triple crown threat for the Rockies, while Street has been a decent closer.

2009-2010: Two deals were swung last hot stove that directly affected the pennant races and future in both leagues.  The Blue Jays gave Roy Halladay a chance to finally be on a winner, shipping him to Philadelphia for big time prospects Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, and Travis d’Arnaud.  Halladay had a perfect game, 21 wins, a CY Young award, and a no-hitter during his first post-season.  Drabek is expected to have a major impact for Toronto, possibly beginning in 2011.  This deal has the potential to be very good for both teams.

The second deal also involved the Phillies as they sent their prior ace, Cliff Lee to the  Seattle Mariners for prospects J.C. Ramirez, Phillippe Aumont, and Tyson Gillies. At the deadline, the M’s then dealt Lee to the Rangers for Justin Smoak, a star in the making.  Lee then helped Texas to the first World Series appearance.  The Mariners and Rangers got the best of the deal, with most pundits feeling the prospects sent to Philly could have been better.

Update 7 p.m.

Dontrelle Willis is giving it another go.  The left-hander signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds and will be used as a reliever.

According to Yahoo’s Tim Brown, at least three teams are interested in Jarrod Washburn, who hasn’t pitched since 2009.  The Brewers are said to be one of the team looking at the lefty.

It’s odd to hear a report from Boston about the Yankees free agent offers, but the Boston Globe reported that the Yankees are offering Cliff Lee a five year deal valued between $115M and $120M.   FoxSports Southwest speculates that the Yankees beginning point might be the Texas top bid.

Drew Sarver is the Yankees content editor and a contributor  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and can be followed on Twitter at @BD_Sarver and @MyPinstripes.

But what would it take to get the star right-hander in Pinstripes? You can start putting a package together that begins with Yankees top prospect Jesus Montero. It’s unlikely the Blue Jays would make any deal with the Bombers without Montero’s inclusion.

And the Yankees would likely not make a deal without at least exploring a new contract for Halladay, whose deal expires at the end of the 2010 season.

Any New York Yankees fan born in the early 1960′s was too late for the amazing run of 12 pennants in 14 seasons.  The Yankees made the World Series series every season from 1960 through 1964, winning twice (’61,’62), but those fans like myself were too young to remember. Then then “Declinasty” began in 1965.

The team had become full of aging veterans that were well past their prime.  Future Hall of Fame members Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford were shells of their former selves.  Ownership fired manager Yogi Berra after the ’64 season, despite leading the team to the World Series.  The team’s majority stake was sold to CBS, beginning a near of decade of hands off ownership.

Good players were few and far between – Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson, Mel Stottelmyre, and Roy White came up through the ranks, but the Yankees always fell short of being in top tier in the American League.  Then came the sale of the Yankees to George Steinbrenner, a shipping magnate who was a self confessed “football guy”.  Steinbrenner started shaking things up and the team started to improve.

The culmination came in 1976 when the Yankees, helmed by former player Billy Martin, won their title since division play began in 1969.  They would be returning to the post-season for the first time in 12 years, the first in which they would have to win a playoff series to reach the World Series.

The AL championship series with the Kansas City Royals was tied at two games apiece, with the fifth and final game played on October 14, 1976 at Yankee Stadium.  The Bronx landmark had reopened six months earlier after a two year renovation.  Nearly 57,000 people packed the “House that Ruth Built” to see Ed Figueroa square off against Dennis Leonard.  Figueroa, who two years later would become the first Puerto Rican born pitcher to win 20 games, had won 19 games in his first year in Pinstripes.

The Yankees were up 6-3 in the 8th inning and appeared set to celebrate their first pennant in over a decade.  But George Brett had other plans.  With two men aboard and left-hander Grant Jackson on the mound, Brett unloaded a game tying 3-run home run into the right field seats.  A loud, mass groan reverberated throughout the Stadium.

Royals reliever Mark Littell had retired all five Yankees he had faced in the 7th and 8th innings, and took the mound to start the 9th.  Littell had been good throughout the series, allowing just three hits and one walk in 4 2-3 innings.  Yankees 1st baseman Chris Chambliss stepped up to the plate having already driven a pair of runs with a sacrifice fly and a ground out.  Yankees radio announcer Bill White told his listeners that Chambliss had the big hits for the Yankees all season long.  He was clairvoyant.  Chambliss turned on the first pitch and hit it deep to right-center field.  Right fielder Hal McRae got to the wall, but leaped in vein as Chambliss’ ball was well out of reach.

Instant pandemonium struck the Bronx- fans stormed the field as Chambliss rounded the bases, barreling through and over anyone who got in his way.  Chambliss was never sure if he touched home plate, so eventually he got a police escort from the dugout to where home plate had been.  He stepped firmly on the dirt to ensure the Yankees first trip to the World Series in what seemed like forever.

While he didn’t come right out and say it, it appears  Girardi’s words indicate Chamberlain will be in the bullpen during the post-season.

“He’s had a lot of success out of the bullpen,” Girardi said. “I can’t guarantee that when you put a guy in situation that he’s going to revert back to his old form if we do put him in the bullpen, but he does have a lot of confidence coming out of those gates.”

For his part, Chamberlain said the unseasonably cool weather bothered him (better get used to October baseball) and would be willing to “fold towels” if it helped the team win.

As for the game itself, the Yankees nearly another come from behind win.  Trailing 4-3 in the 9th, Francisco Cervelli reached on a 2-out single against closer Joakim Soria.  Yuniesky Betancourt had to hurry his throw to get the speedy Freddy Guzman, who had grounded to short.  The throw was wild, putting runners on the corners with one out. But Soria got Ramiro “Catwoman” Pena to fly out to shallow left for his 30th save of the season.

The Yankees came back twice in the game.  Derek Jeter’s 18th home run off of Robinson Tejada tied the game at 1-1 in the 1st and Nick Swisher’s 29th home run, a 2-run shot, tied the game at three apiece in the bottom of the 5th.

Game Notes

The Yankees finished their home schedule with a 57-24 mark, best in the majors.  They have Thursday off before starting the final three game series on the road in Tampa Bay.  Their 45-33 road record is currently second best, along with the Los Angeles Angels, in the majors.  Philly has the top road record at 48-33.

Johnny Damon played his 140th game last night making him only the 5th player in major league history to play 140 or more games for 14 straight seasons.  Hank Aaron, Brooks Robinson, Willie Mays, and Pete Rose were the others.

Damaso Marte took the loss after Nick Swisher fell down on John Buck’s routine fly ball.  The miscue, scored a hit, resulted in an RBI triple to put KC up 4-3 in the 7th.

The Yankees also had to be encouraged by the second straight good start by A.J. Burnett. Though he lasted just 5 2/3 innings in 95 degree heat, Burnett struck out 11 and limited the Angels lineup to two runs.  He ran out of gas in the 6th, allowing an RBI double to Gary Matthews Jr., followed by a walk to Mike Napoli.  Girardi sent for Damaso Marte to flip Chone Figgins around to the right side.  The dangerous switch-hitter already had three hits, but Marte retired him on a fly to right to preserve the lead.

After that it was all mix and match and keeping one’s fingers crossed.  The biggest surprise, to the pitcher himself, was when Girardi called on Ian Kennedy in the 8th.  It was Kennedy’s first major league appearance this season after missing most of the year due to surgery for an aneurysm in his shoulder.  It wasn’t pretty, butIPK got the job done.  He loaded the bases loaded with a pair of walks and a hit batter, but got Erick Aybar on a fly to Melky Cabrera in left to set things up for Rivera.

With a lineup that was missing Alex Rodriguez (rest), Jorge Posada (foul ball off his foot), and Nick Swisher (foul ball off his knee), the Yankees knew they would have to scratch and claw for runs.  Mark Teixeira stroked a one out double off Scott Kazmir in the 4th and tried to score two batters later when Shelley Duncan ripped a single to left off the glove of Figgins at third.  Despite the fact Teixeira had started to head back to 2nd base, 3rd base coach Rob Thomson waved Teixeira home, hoping to break the scoreless tie.  Unfortunately for Thomson, Juan Rivera made a perfect throw to nail Teixeira at the plate.

Hideki Matsui, who had drawn a walk, and Duncan both into scoring position on the play.  That’s when the guy you would least expect to deliver in the clutch, did just that. Robinson Cano came into the game barely hitting over .200 with runners in scoring position, but ripped a single to right to plate both runners.  WhenNapoli couldn’t handle the throw home, Cano moved to 2nd base.  The play would prove important when Melky Cabrera followed with a double to easily score his buddy for a 3-0 Yankees lead.

So perhaps the Yankees finally have some confidence in the home of the Halos.  What they definitely have is a six game lead over Boston in the AL East and a six game homestand ahead with the Sox and Kansas City Royals.

Game Notes

The Yankees have Thursday off before starting that 3-game set with the Red Sox.  Joe Girardi has shuffled his starting rotation, moving CC Sabathia to Saturday to give him an extra day’s rest.  Joba Chamberlain will go Friday night against Jon Lester.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, A.J. Burnett is just the third Yankee pitcher to record double digit strikeouts in less than six innings.  Chamberlain did it earlier this season (12 K’s) and David Cone performed the feat in 1998 (11 K’s).

Jerry Hairston Jr. left the game with a wrist injury when he checked his swing in the 7th inning.  Hairston hurt a popping sound and will go for tests today.

Jesus turns water into wine

US hockey beats Russia in the 1980 Winter Olympics

The Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim

While that last miracle may not be up to the caliber of the previous ones, the Yankees did indeed finally beat the Angels on their home turf last night, 6-5.  Of course the victory wasn’t stress free as the Yankees blew a 5-0 lead before winning it on an Alex Rodriguez sacrifice fly in the 9th inning.  The Yankees also clinched a playoff berth last night when the Texas Rangers lost to the Oakland Athletics. The Yankees also increased their lead in the AL East to six games ahead of the Boston Red Sox when the Sox lost to the Kansas City Royals for the second straight night.

The Yankees borrowed from the Angels’ aggressive play book to pull out the triumph.  Brett Gardner singled off Matt Palmer and stole 2nd base, his 23rd successful theft in 28 attempts.  A walk to Derek Jeter allowed Joe Girardi to play small ball, and it worked effectively when Johnny Damon bunted the runners over.  A-Rod, who earlier had his his 580th career homer, hit a fly to center field off lefty Darren Oliver to bring home Gardner with the go ahead run.

Mariano Rivera, whose 36-game consecutive save chance streak ended in Seattle on Friday, walked Kendry Morales to start the 9th.  But the Yankees closer then struck out Juan Rivera and Jorge Posada threw out would be base stealer Reggie Willits at 2nd base for a “strike ‘em out/throw ‘em out” double play.   Rivera then retired Erick Aybar on a ground out to Robinson Cano for his 41st save.

It appeared that the Yankees might actually be in for cake walk when they jumped out to a 5-0 lead on home runs by Rodriguez, Posada, and Hideki Matsui.  Chad Gaudin had relatively breezed through the first four innings in his best performance as a Yankee to date.  But in the 5th he surrendered a solo home run to Yankees killer Chone Figgins, and two hits, a walk, and a run later he was out of the game in favor of Al Aceves.

Aceves was on the hill for the first time in eight days and it showed an inning later.  Three singles in four at-bats, the last by Gary Matthews Jr., cut the Yankees lead to 5-3.  Aceves than walked former teammate Bobby Abreu with the bases loaded to force in a run and Vlad Guerrero appeared to produce the go ahead hit when he ripped a ball down the 3rd base line.  But Rodriguez dove to his right, snared the baseball and threw Guerrero out to save two, and possibly three runs.

The Yankees defense saved them in the 6th, but it came back to bite them in the 8th.  A Cano error allowed Howie Kendrick to reach 1st base safely and then Jorge Posada threw a one-hopper into center field when Kendrick stole 2nd base.  Just like that, the Angels had the tying run on 3rd with nobody out.  Hughes retired Figgins on a pop up, but Maecir Izturis singled to right to the game at five apiece.

With the Yankees already 0-5 with runners in scoring position Rodriguez put the Yankees on the board in the 3rd when he followed Mark Teixeira’s single with his 27th home run of the season off of Halos’ starter Ervin Santana.  Two batters later, Posada went deep with Hideki Matsui aboard for a 4-0 lead.  Then it was Matsui’s turn in the 5th.  Godzilla smoked his 28th home run of the season, with the total being evenly split before and after the All-Star break.

Game Notes

Derek Jeter picked up his 200th hit when he singled in the 4th inning.  He now has seven 200-hit seasons, one shy of the team record held by, you guessed it, Lou Gehrig.

Alex Rodriguez is now three home runs by Mark McGwire for 8th place on the career home run list.

The Yankees will try to take the series tonight when they send A.J. Burnett to the mound against left-hander Scott Kazmir.

On the even brighter side, Pettitte who missed his last start with shoulder fatigue, allowed 3 runs in an effective six effective innings and felt good afterwards. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Angels’ starter Joe Saunders was even better.  The left-hander was 9-7 with a 5.33 ERA when he went on the DL after his August 7th start.  But since then he’s gone unbeaten, posting a 5-0 record in six starts, while posting a 2.11 ERA.  He came within two outs of throwing a complete game despite having to pitch with a sore patella tendon in his left leg.

The Yankees put two men aboard in the first but Chone Figgins defense helped Saunders escape trouble.  With Johnny Damon on 1st, Mark Teixeira hit a bullet down the 3rd base line that was ticketed for extra bases.  But Figgins made a diving stop and fired to 2nd base for a would be force out. But 2nd baseman Howie Kendrick dropped the throw allowing both runners to reach.  (Somehow the official scorer ruled it a fielder’s choice rather than a hit or error). Saunders picked up his teammate with a swinging strikeout of Alex Rodriguez and then retired Nick Swisher on a lazy fly.  After that the Yankees rolled over, except for solo home runs by A-Rod and Hideki Matsui in the 7th and 8th innings.

The Angels jumped right on Pettitte in the home half of the 1st, though it looked like Pettitte would escape unscathed when Jose Molina threw Figgins out attempting to steal 2nd base for the second out of the inning.  But Bobby Abreu singled and scored on Vlad Guerrero’s gapper to right-center.  Torii Hunter then followed with a double of his own for a 2-0 lead.

The Yankees’ home runs got them back to 2-run deficits each time, but the Yankees pen let the Angels extend their lead in each instance.  Kendry Morales hit a pinch-hit solo home run, his 31st (and RBI #99) off of Brian Bruney in the 7th and Jonathan Albaladejo allowed another run in the 8th.

Game Notes

Derek Jeter had a pair of hits in the game to give him 199 on the season.  His next hit will give him 7-200 hit seasons.

The Angels reduced their magic number for clinching the AL West to 6 and won their 90th game for the 7th time in 9 seasons.

Francisco Cervelli got quite a thrill before the game when Reggie Jackson introduced him to fellow Hall of Fame member Frank Robinson.  Robby currently works for the commissioner’s office.

Chad Gaudin looks to get the Yankees back on the winning track tonight when he goes up against Ervin Santana.

The Yankees second best acquisition of this past off-season made their best acquisition, CC Sabathia, the American League’s first 18 game winner.  The big left-hander, and Cy Young candidate, allowed one unearned run in seven innings of work while allowing just four hits.  The Yankees were already up 6-0 when the Mariners got on the board thanks to an Rodriguez throwing error, andTeixeira and company put the pedal to the medal to put the game out of reach.

Teixeira would have had a three home run game if not for the 1st inning effort of Mariners’ centerfielder Franklin Gutierrez.  With Johnny Damon aboard, Teixeira hit a smash to deep center off starter Doug Fister that a leaping Gutierrez got a glove on as the ball began to go over the fence for a sure home run.  Gutierrez couldn’t hang on though as he hit the wall and it landed in play for an RBI triple.

Hideki Matsui’s 26th home run in the 2nd helped increased New York’s advantage to 3-0 as Teixeira came to bat with two aboard in the 5th.  This time he pulled the ball  down the right field line, just over the 326-ft sign, for his 36th home run of the year and a 6-0 Yankees’ lead.

Home run #37 would come after a mere single in the 7th. Teixeira, batting from the right side in the 9th against left-hander Luke French, hit a no doubt about it shot over the 388-ft sign in left-center for his 118th run batted in of the season.

Game Notes

Since the All-Star break, CC Sabathia is 10-1, 2.54 in 13 starts.  He’s struck out 91 in 92 innings with just 22 walks and 78 hits allowed.

Ian Kennedy is all the way back from aneurysm surgery and in this case that means back on the major league roster.  IPK even surprised himself with is return.  He’ll get more innings over the next two months in the Arizona Fall League.

Freddy Guzman drove in his first run as a Yankee last night with a 9th inning sacrifice fly.

Ichiro Suzuki would never forget the game after being picked off first base not once, but twice. Then an unfunny thing happened on the way to the post-game high fives for the Yankees.  Pinch-hitter Mike Sweeney narrowly missed hitting one out, driving a ball on to the warning track in right for a 2-out double.  That set up a showdown between two future Hall ofFamers, Ichiro and Rivera.  Moments later it was the Mariners celebrating when Ichiro hit a rare home run for a 3-2 Mariners victory.

The loss somewhat wasted a bounce back effort from A.J. Burnett, who allowed one run and scattered seven hits over seven innings.  I say somewhat, because Burnett really needed a good outing for his own confidence as well as his manager’s confidence in him.  He still could have picked up a victory had his team taken advantages of opportunities they had against “King” Felix Hernandez (16-5).

Derek Jeter led off the ball game with a single and Johnny Damon followed with a double.  But the Yankees came away with only one run on Alex Rodriguez‘ sacrifice fly.  Nick Swisher was stranded after a lead off double in the 7th and the Yankees had at least one man on in seven of the nine innings.

The Yankees went ahead in the 7th when Damon doubled for the second time, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on Mark Teixeira’s sac fly.

But despite the one run lead, the Yankees had the ball in the right hands.  Rivera hadn’t blown a save since April 24 when Boston’s Jason Bay slugged a 2-run home run off of him up in Fenway Park.  He had only been scored upon once in the last two months.

And things seemed normal when Rivera (3-3) struck out John Hannahan looking to give the M’s infielder the “Golden Sombrero” and then blew an inside fastball past a swinging pinch-hitter Mike Carp for the 2nd out.

Mo breathed a sigh relief when Sweeney’s opposite field fly seemed destined to leave the park, but short hopped the wall instead.  Then Rivera’s first pitch cutter to Ichiro didn’t move and the M’s right fielder deposited the ball deep into the right field seats for his 10th home run.  It was Ichiro’s fourth hit of the game, second walk-off hit of the week and third game winning home run of the season.

Game Notes

The Yankees announced that Sergio Mitre’s turn will be skipped when the Yankees open a series with the Angels on Monday.  Chad Gaudin, who pitched effectively against the Blue Jays, will take his turn.

CC Sabathia goes after his 18th win this afternoon (4:10 p.m. ET) when he faces rookie Doug Fister.

Despite a solid outing from spot starter Chad Gaudin, the Yankees slept their way through seven innings of dull baseball and trailed 4-2 in the 8th. Phil Hughes started things out with a dynamite top of the inning and then the bats came to life.  Alex Rodriguez dunked n a 1-out single off lefty Scott Downs and then it was time for Godzilla to destroy another city.  Hideki Matsui entered the game with nearly half his 24 home runs coming against southpaws.  Number 25 landed in the right field stands and tied the game at four apiece.

“Pie Anticipation” set in after Mariano Rivera tossed a scoreless 9th and Brett Gardner kept the momentum going with a lead off single against Jays’ closer Jason Frasor in the home half of the inning.  The speedster swiped his 22nd base in 27 attempts and moved to third on Derek Jeter’s ground out up the middle.  With no third catcher available due to Jorge Posada’s suspension, Joe Girardi had no choice but to let Francisco Cervelli bat for himself.  The “Cisco Kid” didn’t let his manager down, singling through the left side for yet another last at-bat win for the Pinstripes.

Cervelli also showed the exuberance that has affected both the youngsters and the veterans.  He joyously rounded first and headed towards right field in an attempt to out run his teammates/mob scene.  But a smiling Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera caught him, setting up another raucous Bronx celebration that culminated when A.J. Burnett gave the rookie catcher his first taste of victory pie.

The Yankees were in the game because Gaudin, starting in place of Andy Pettitte, was solid through five plus innings.  He allowed a solo home run by Jose Bautista, but got out of other jams with run producing ground outs.  The Blue Jays tacked one on against Brian Bruney in the 7th, but mystique, aura, and exuberance were waiting in the wings.

Game Notes

Mariano Rivera won his 3rd game of the season and the 71st of his career.

The Yankees have Thursday off and will travel to the west coast for games at Seattle and LA (Ana).

The Yankees took a quick 1-0 lead in the 1st inning when Derek Jeter picked up hit number 2,724 and eventually came around to score on a Mark Teixeira sacrifice fly. But it was short lived as Burnett couldn’t get anyone out in the top of the 2nd. Nolan Reimold tied the game with a solo home run to start the frame and Robert Andino put the O’s ahead with an RBI single. With the bases loaded, Brian Roberts, who to that point hadn’t achieved the same success this season as he had in the past against the Yankees, belted a grand slam over the fence in right-center field for a 6-1 Orioles lead.

Burnett allowed just one hit over the next five innings, but the damage was done. Rookie Brian Matusz improved to 5-2 by allowing just a run on four hits over seven innings. The Yankees added a couple of meaningless runs in the 9th inning on RBI hits by Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada.

Burnett was 5-0 with an ERA just over 2.00 from late June to late July, but since then he’s gone 1-5, 6.19 ERA in nine starts since. He’s also allowed a career high 24 home runs. In winning 18 games with the Toronto Blue Jays last season, Burnett was 10-4 after the All-Star break.

For a while it was unclear whether tonight’s Yankees-Orioles game would even be played.  Heavy rains fell most of the day in the metropolitan area, resulting in a one hour-25 minute rain delay before play got underway.

Jeter struck out in his first at-bat against Orioles rookie pitcher Chris Tillman, but hit number 2,722 put Jeter one ahead of Lou Gehrig and brought the rain drenched crowd, including Jeter’s family to it’s feet.  As he had when he tied the record, Jeter raised his helmet in salute to the fans, who serenaded him with chants of “Der-ek Jet-er”.

Jeter, who later added an RBI single, is 16th among players who lead their respective teams in base hits.

Andy Pettitte had his shakiest outing since July, but left with a 4-3 lead, most of which was built on an Alex Rodriguez 3-run home run.  But the Orioles belted Damaso Marte around in the 6th inning and it was all downhill from there.

Derek Jeter hit timeline:

1st Hit – 5/30/95 vs. Seattle, Tim Belcher
100th Hit – 7/17/96 vs. Boston, Joe Hudson
500th Hit – 7/20/98 vs. Detroit, Bryce Florie
1,000th Hit – 9/25/00 vs. Detroit, Steve Sparks
1,500th Hit – 8/16/03  vs. Baltimore, Rodrigo Lopez
2,000th Hit – 5/26/06 vs. Kansas City, Scott Elarton
2,500th Hit – 8/22/08 vs. Baltimore, Radhames Liz
2,721st Hit – 9/9/09 vs. Tampa Bay, Jeff Niemann
2,722nd Hit – 9/10/09 vs. Baltimore, Chris Tillman

Hughes came on in the 8th to protect a 2-1 lead, but Jason Bartlett smacked his 13th home run of the season to tie things up.  It was the first earned run allowed by Hughes since August 4 and the first home run given up since June 10.  But Swisher, who had smacked his 25th home run of the season in the 1st inning off starter David Price, turned around to the left side against Dan Wheeler and hit a laser into the first row in right field.

A wild celebration ensued, the culmination of course being an A.J. Burnett delivered pie to the face.  Swisher, whose personality has helped turned the ball club from a corporate, button down philosophy to a more relaxed business casual, enjoyed every moment of it.

Alex Rodriguez‘ RBI single in the 6th had given the Yankees a 2-0 lead behind Chad Gaudin (6 IP 6 H 1 ER 2 BB 6 K), who was clearly having his best outing as a Yankee.  Through six scoreless innings he had thrown just 65 pitches and scattered four hits.  But Evan Longoria greeted him in the 7th with a lead off home run, his 30th, and Gaudin was pulled after a walk and single followed. Joe Girardi fully utilized his bullpen, bringing in Damaso Marte, Brian Bruney, and Phil Coke to strand both runners.

Game Notes

Derek Jeter’s hitless string continued as he only put the ball in play once.  His third straight 0-4 left him 0-12 in his last three games.

Mariano Rivera (2-2) earned the win after pitching a scoreless 9th inning.

From the Elias Sports Bureau – Nick Swisher tied his own AL record (2007), shared with Tony Clark, for most games (3) in which he has homered from both sides of the plate in one season.

Rays 1st Baseman Carlos Pena will miss the rest of the season after suffering two broken fingers on his throwing (left) hand.  CC Sabathia hit him with a pitch in Monday’s day part of the day-night doubleheader.  Pena currently leads the AL with 39 home runs.

David Robertson has been experiencing discomfort in his elbow and will be visiting Dr. James Andrews for further evaluation.

Joba Chamberlain will get his 3 inning stint tonight when he faces Jeff Niemann in the series finale (7:05 P.M. ET TV-ESPN).

If you were a kid in the late 1960′s/early 1970′s and were a Yankees fan, there’s a good chance that Bobby Murcer was your guy.  Those Yankees teams ranged from mediocre to just plain bad, but Bobby was a constant.  An All-Star caliber player, Bobby had unfairly inherited the center field birthright that had belonged to DiMaggio and then Mantle.  It was ridiculous to think that anyone could have matched those players’ star power let alone their statistics.  Especially since Bobby wasn’t surrounded with anywhere near the talent that his predecessors were.

But he played hard, day in and day out, and created excitement with his home runs to the short porch in the old Yankee Stadium, his hustle, and his defense.  Bobby put together a great career in New York.  Then the Yankees decided to refurbish Yankee Stadium and temporarily shared Shea Stadium with the Mets.  Bobby’s offensive game was never quite the same.

To make matters worse, on October 22, 1974, the Yankees shipped Bobby to the left coast for San Francisco Giants outfielder Bobby Bonds.  I was devastated, as were all Bobby Murcer fans.  And, as he would later tell it, so was Bobby.

Bobby spent two seasons by the Bay before he was shipped to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Madlock.  It was kind of cool seeing Bobby in Wrigley as well as sporting the number 7 on his back.  But it was not the same.  Then came June 26, 1979, and Bobby was back in a Yankees uniform, acquired in a deal for minor leaguer Paul Semall.

Bobby raced to Toronto and was inserted in the Yankees lineup the very night of the trade.  I was still in a daze from hearing the Yankees had reacquired him and suddenly there he was, wearing #2 (manager Billy Martin now wore #1) and batting third.  He had two hits and two walks and the Yankees crushed the Blue Jays 11-2.  Happy days were here again.  Much of those good feelings went away a little more than a month later, however, when our beloved Captain, and Bobby’s good friend, Thurman Munson perished in a plane crash.

Bobby’s eulogy and his subsequent one-man Orioles wrecking crew on the playing field the night of  Thurman’s funeral will always be remembered.  Bobby was a little older the second time around with the Yankees, so that led to being platooned, and eventually to retirement in the middle of the 1983 season.  But in between, he finally got to the World Series with the Yankees in 1981.  Post-retirement meant a job in the Yankees broadcast booth and one season as the Yankees assistant GM.

Bobby carved out a nice little niche for himself working alongside the likes of Phil Rizzuto, Bill White, Jim Palmer, Tim McCarver, Michael Kay, Ken Singleton, and many, many more colleagues at YES, WPIX, Fox, and WWOR. Bobby’s broadcast career also enabled his fans to stay connected to him.  Though he didn’t win any World Series rings, isn’t a Hall of Fame member, and spent a good number of years away from where he belonged, the Yankees fans always gave Bobby a nice ovation in both his career and post-career days.

Looking up to Bobby as a kid was made even more special when I learned what a genuinely great person he was off the field.  It was a lot of fun recounting his career and life in his book, “Yankee For Life: My 40-year Journey in Pinstripes“.  I also had the opportunity to meet Bobby as part of a sponsor’s night at the Stadium. I even came away with an autographed baseball card.  Bobby was also a tireless worker for the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.), helping out those baseball alumni who had fallen on hard times.  He raised more than a $1 million dollars for the American Cancer Society with an annual golf tournament, and helped raise money and awareness for the victims of the Oklahoma City bombings.

Bobby's son Todd, wife Kay, and daughter Tori

The day Bobby was traded to San Francisco in 1974 couldn’t compare to the day I learned Bobby had cancer or the July day last year when I found he had succumbed to the disease.  It not only hit home because of what Bobby meant to me as a kid and as an adult, but brain cancer also took my Mom at just 71 years of age in 2001.  I know what Bobby’s family went through and is going through.

If you or someone you know has been affected by a brain tumor, you can learn more at the National Brain Tumor Foundation website.

Here are some of my favorite Bobby memories that I was fortunate enough to witness in person:

I can’t remember too many specifics from the pre-1975 games, but it seemed like Bobby homered every time we went to a game.

Bat Day, 1971 – My wishes are fulfilled.  I get a Bobby Murcer bat!

Opening Day, 1981 – Bobby hits a pinch-hit grand slam, just out of the reach of Texas Rangers‘ outfielder John Grubb.  The Yankees roll 10-3.

September 26, 1981 – Bobby hits a pinch-hit, walk off 3-run home run to beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4.

October 21, 1981 – Bobby is in the World Series at last. Game 2, he lays down a perfect sacrifice bunt in his lone plate appearance of the night.  The Yankees win 3-0 over the LA Dodgers.

August 7, 1983 – Bobby Murcer Day at the Stadium.  The Detroit Tigers crushed the Yankees, but the game was secondary.

Great times I only saw on TV or heard on the radio:

June 24, 1970 – Bobby hits 4 consecutive home runs in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.

August 29, 1972 – Bobby hits for the cycle.  Only one other Yankee, Tony Fernandez in 1995, has achieved the feat since.