MLB: Indians 4, Athletics 1

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Orlando Cabrera singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians won their seventh straight game, 4-1 over the host Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.

The Indians are off to their best start for the fourth time in franchise history - they last began 20-8 in 1999.


Matt LaPorta and Jack Hannahan hit consecutive one-out singles before Cabrera delivered the tiebreaking hit against Brian Fuentes (1-3).

Asdrubal Cabrera, who had three of Cleveland's 12 hits, finished the scoring with a two-run single.

Fausto Carmona (3-3) gave up one run and five hits in eight innings, and Chris Perez pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

Oakland starter Tyson Ross allowed one run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked none.

Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo went 0-for-4 with a walk. He was arrested on a DUI charge early Monday morning before the Indians departed for Oakland.

Via:http://www.latimes.com/sports/sns-rt-usmlb-us-mlb-recap-tre7430ux-20110504,0,4109178.story

MLB: Indians 4, Athletics 1

Do not think to much, do not speak to loud, our Hot New Today is about MLB: Indians 4, Athletics 1 - You have to continue reading this information about MLB: Indians 4, Athletics 1.

Orlando Cabrera singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Cleveland Indians won their seventh straight game, 4-1 over the host Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.

The Indians are off to their best start for the fourth time in franchise history - they last began 20-8 in 1999.


Matt LaPorta and Jack Hannahan hit consecutive one-out singles before Cabrera delivered the tiebreaking hit against Brian Fuentes (1-3).

Asdrubal Cabrera, who had three of Cleveland's 12 hits, finished the scoring with a two-run single.

Fausto Carmona (3-3) gave up one run and five hits in eight innings, and Chris Perez pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

Oakland starter Tyson Ross allowed one run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked none.

Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo went 0-for-4 with a walk. He was arrested on a DUI charge early Monday morning before the Indians departed for Oakland.

Via:http://www.latimes.com/sports/sns-rt-usmlb-us-mlb-recap-tre7430ux-20110504,0,4109178.story

Yankees manager Joe Girardi optimistic after A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira have strong springs

Do not think to much, do not speak to loud, our Hot New Today is about Yankees manager Joe Girardi optimistic after A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira have strong springs - You have to continue reading this information.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi optimistic after A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira have strong springs

TAMPA - The Yankees and Tigers made quick work of their final spring game at Steinbrenner Field Tuesday, but the two teams will meet Thursday at Yankee Stadium under much more meaningful circumstances.


Spring training is over, and although the Yankees weren't able to completely avoid the injury bug, they boarded their charter Tuesday feeling pretty good about their chances to make a run at the World Series this season.

"I feel good about this team," Joe Girardi said. "I know one of the things we have to do is we have to stay healthy."

The news on that front was encouraging, as Curtis Granderson was optimistic about his chances to play on Opening Day after taking part in a simulated game at the minor-league complex Tuesday. Granderson, who did not accompany the team to New York, will play in a minor league game Wednesday, giving his strained right oblique one final test.

Pedro Feliciano isn't as fortunate, as the typically durable reliever will open the season with his first career trip to the disabled list.

"If you don't have your lefthanded specialist and your center fielder starting the season, that's not how you want to get started," Girardi said. "But I believe this team is extremely talented and I like this team."

The manager has every reason to feel good about his club, especially considering the spring performances of some of the Yankees' biggest stars.

Alex Rodriguez looked like an MVP candidate, hitting .388 with a team-leading six home runs and 15 RBI, while Mark Teixeira hit .294 and hopes to carry that momentum into the season and avoid another awful April.

"Alex's spring was unbelievable," Girardi said. "There's really no other way to describe it - the power that he displayed and how hard he hit the ball on a consistent basis. I don't know if you're surprised, but to see a guy locked in from Day 1 sometimes is kind of different to see."

Derek Jeter was also a bright spot this spring, as the captain adapted to his new stride-less swing, hitting .304 in 18 games. Jeter is likely to share leadoff duties this season with Brett Gardner, although Girardi planned to discuss the top of the order with his coaches during the flight home Tuesday night before writing out his Opening Day lineup.

"Some of the balls that he's pulled with authority, I've noticed that he seems to get to that better now, and I think it's something that pitchers are going to have to think about," Girardi said. "Everything he used to try to shoot the other way, and he would pull some breaking balls. I've seen him pull some heaters with authority. People are going to have to decide whether the risk is worth it now."

The biggest questions heading into the spring surrounded the final two rotations slots, but with Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia now entrenched at No. 4 and 5 behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes, the Yankees believe they have the arms to contend in the ultra-competitive AL East.

"I've always raved about Nova's stuff," Girardi said. "I believe he can be a winner and pitch at a very high level. And Freddy's a competitor and knows how to compete."

Girardi believes his team is good enough to win it all, but when asked for a season prediction, he opted not to follow Rex Ryan in the prognostication business.

"Be the best we can be," Girardi said.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2011/03/30/2011-03-30_yankees_manager_joe_girardi_optimistic_after_arod_derek_jeter_mark_teixeira_have.html

Yankees manager Joe Girardi optimistic after A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira have strong springs

Do not think to much, do not speak to loud, our Hot New Today is about Yankees manager Joe Girardi optimistic after A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira have strong springs - You have to continue reading this information.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi optimistic after A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira have strong springs

TAMPA - The Yankees and Tigers made quick work of their final spring game at Steinbrenner Field Tuesday, but the two teams will meet Thursday at Yankee Stadium under much more meaningful circumstances.


Spring training is over, and although the Yankees weren't able to completely avoid the injury bug, they boarded their charter Tuesday feeling pretty good about their chances to make a run at the World Series this season.

"I feel good about this team," Joe Girardi said. "I know one of the things we have to do is we have to stay healthy."

The news on that front was encouraging, as Curtis Granderson was optimistic about his chances to play on Opening Day after taking part in a simulated game at the minor-league complex Tuesday. Granderson, who did not accompany the team to New York, will play in a minor league game Wednesday, giving his strained right oblique one final test.

Pedro Feliciano isn't as fortunate, as the typically durable reliever will open the season with his first career trip to the disabled list.

"If you don't have your lefthanded specialist and your center fielder starting the season, that's not how you want to get started," Girardi said. "But I believe this team is extremely talented and I like this team."

The manager has every reason to feel good about his club, especially considering the spring performances of some of the Yankees' biggest stars.

Alex Rodriguez looked like an MVP candidate, hitting .388 with a team-leading six home runs and 15 RBI, while Mark Teixeira hit .294 and hopes to carry that momentum into the season and avoid another awful April.

"Alex's spring was unbelievable," Girardi said. "There's really no other way to describe it - the power that he displayed and how hard he hit the ball on a consistent basis. I don't know if you're surprised, but to see a guy locked in from Day 1 sometimes is kind of different to see."

Derek Jeter was also a bright spot this spring, as the captain adapted to his new stride-less swing, hitting .304 in 18 games. Jeter is likely to share leadoff duties this season with Brett Gardner, although Girardi planned to discuss the top of the order with his coaches during the flight home Tuesday night before writing out his Opening Day lineup.

"Some of the balls that he's pulled with authority, I've noticed that he seems to get to that better now, and I think it's something that pitchers are going to have to think about," Girardi said. "Everything he used to try to shoot the other way, and he would pull some breaking balls. I've seen him pull some heaters with authority. People are going to have to decide whether the risk is worth it now."

The biggest questions heading into the spring surrounded the final two rotations slots, but with Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia now entrenched at No. 4 and 5 behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes, the Yankees believe they have the arms to contend in the ultra-competitive AL East.

"I've always raved about Nova's stuff," Girardi said. "I believe he can be a winner and pitch at a very high level. And Freddy's a competitor and knows how to compete."

Girardi believes his team is good enough to win it all, but when asked for a season prediction, he opted not to follow Rex Ryan in the prognostication business.

"Be the best we can be," Girardi said.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2011/03/30/2011-03-30_yankees_manager_joe_girardi_optimistic_after_arod_derek_jeter_mark_teixeira_have.html

Ivan Nova sharp in first exhibition start

Did you know Ivan Nova ? yeah Iv�n Manuel Nova Guance (born January 12, 1987) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees. Ivan Nova was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Yankees in 2004. At the end of the 2008 season, Nova had not advanced beyond Class-A Advanced, where he pitched for the Tampa Yankees.

In December 2008, Nova was selected by the San Diego Padres in the Rule 5 draft. However, he was returned to the Yankees after clearing outright waivers at the end of the 2009 spring training, during which he had an 8.31 ERA, allowing eight earned runs and 13 hits in 8 2/3 innings.

What is the Hot News Today ?

Ivan Nova, in contention for one of the back-end spots in the Yankees� rotation, looked sharp in his first exhibition start, Sunday�s 7-3 victory over the Phillies.


�Real good,� Joe Girardi said. �You look at the six outs he got, four ground balls. That�s what we want from him. I thought he looked really good.�

Nova, 24, doesn�t lack for confidence. The righthander smiles easily, and he broke into a wide grin when asked what he has liked best so far.

�Right now I�m happy with everything,� Nova said. �The first thing I�m happy with is we have a spot open in the rotation. Everything�s going well, I have really good command right now and I feel great. I like everything.�

Girardi is fine hearing that, as are the Yankees. Barring any trades, they need Nova to excel.

�He should believe in himself,� Girardi said. �I believe in him. This kid, I think he�s got a bright future ... This kid�s extremely talented and we like his stuff.�

Nova got groundouts by Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez in the first inning and started the second by freezing Ryan Howard on a curve ball. Placido Polanco grounded back to Nova, who then ended the inning by striking out Domonic Brown.

�I got to face really good hitters,� Nova said. �But you just have to go out there and throw strikes and be aggressive.�

That Nova had a good first two innings wasn�t surprising. He looked good early in the majority of his seven starts at the end of last season, only to run into problems the second or third time through the lineup.

�For Nova, I thought the issue was when he got into trouble, getting out of it,� Girardi said. �He did it the one day in Toronto but the other days he struggled with it.�

The day Girardi referenced in Toronto was Nova�s first big-league start, Aug. 23, when he worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam.

�My confidence, I�m not thinking too much, like �Oh, I have to face Ryan Howard,� � Nova said of the difference he feels this year after going 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 2010. �Just throw the ball. I know I can people out. I have really good stuff and I just have to throw strikes.�

Girardi said maybe too much was made of the problems Nova had as the games wore on.

Source:http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/other_mlb/view/2011_0228nova_sharp_in_first_exhibition_start/srvc=sports&position=recent_bullet

Ivan Nova sharp in first exhibition start

Did you know Ivan Nova ? yeah Iv�n Manuel Nova Guance (born January 12, 1987) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees. Ivan Nova was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Yankees in 2004. At the end of the 2008 season, Nova had not advanced beyond Class-A Advanced, where he pitched for the Tampa Yankees.

In December 2008, Nova was selected by the San Diego Padres in the Rule 5 draft. However, he was returned to the Yankees after clearing outright waivers at the end of the 2009 spring training, during which he had an 8.31 ERA, allowing eight earned runs and 13 hits in 8 2/3 innings.

What is the Hot News Today ?

Ivan Nova, in contention for one of the back-end spots in the Yankees� rotation, looked sharp in his first exhibition start, Sunday�s 7-3 victory over the Phillies.


�Real good,� Joe Girardi said. �You look at the six outs he got, four ground balls. That�s what we want from him. I thought he looked really good.�

Nova, 24, doesn�t lack for confidence. The righthander smiles easily, and he broke into a wide grin when asked what he has liked best so far.

�Right now I�m happy with everything,� Nova said. �The first thing I�m happy with is we have a spot open in the rotation. Everything�s going well, I have really good command right now and I feel great. I like everything.�

Girardi is fine hearing that, as are the Yankees. Barring any trades, they need Nova to excel.

�He should believe in himself,� Girardi said. �I believe in him. This kid, I think he�s got a bright future ... This kid�s extremely talented and we like his stuff.�

Nova got groundouts by Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez in the first inning and started the second by freezing Ryan Howard on a curve ball. Placido Polanco grounded back to Nova, who then ended the inning by striking out Domonic Brown.

�I got to face really good hitters,� Nova said. �But you just have to go out there and throw strikes and be aggressive.�

That Nova had a good first two innings wasn�t surprising. He looked good early in the majority of his seven starts at the end of last season, only to run into problems the second or third time through the lineup.

�For Nova, I thought the issue was when he got into trouble, getting out of it,� Girardi said. �He did it the one day in Toronto but the other days he struggled with it.�

The day Girardi referenced in Toronto was Nova�s first big-league start, Aug. 23, when he worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam.

�My confidence, I�m not thinking too much, like �Oh, I have to face Ryan Howard,� � Nova said of the difference he feels this year after going 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 2010. �Just throw the ball. I know I can people out. I have really good stuff and I just have to throw strikes.�

Girardi said maybe too much was made of the problems Nova had as the games wore on.

Source:http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/other_mlb/view/2011_0228nova_sharp_in_first_exhibition_start/srvc=sports&position=recent_bullet

Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity

Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity already on Hot News Today, So If you are a baseball lover here you go if you want to know about your baseball favorite team. You will got someting new with Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity article.

There�s nothing like a rambling, underinformed, hot-air rant from someone named Steinbrenner to whisk us back to the bad old �80s � you know, that Yankee dark age when the franchise was soaked by lunacy�s constant drizzle (courtesy of you know who).


The Bombers were treated to more of the same in the last two days, except it wasn�t George who barged his way on to the back pages of the tabloids. It was his rogue son Hank, the more reckless, albeit more interesting of the two siblings, who decided to take on Derek Jeter, of all people.

Understand this about the shortstop: His star power isn�t what it used to be, certainly not after being taken down during last fall�s contract negotiations. Another .270-something season and Jeter will learn the hard way that New York�s love of its superstars isn�t limitless.

But for now, Hank is no match for Jeter�s celebrity, which is why any criticism of the �mansions� the shortstop supposedly was building while the Yankees were falling short of the World Series in 2010 is more amusing than it was insulting.

Still, the idea that Hank is once again on the loose after a two-year hiatus could mean trouble, if not for Jeter, then for Joe Girardi and especially Brian Cashman, who�s in the final year of his contract.

The team�s hierarchy understands many, many things have to go right for the Yankees to prevail in October, assuming they even get there. This delicate equation depends not just on the emergence of credible fourth and fifth starters (and a bounce-back season from Jeter), but on good chemistry and competent management � two factors that Hank has a chance to nuke.

He is very much the �80s version of his father: demanding, unfiltered, boisterous. But while George was an astute businessman a shark, no doubt � Hank acts and sounds like a knee-jerk, one-dimensional thinker

Hank, for instance, said some of today�s players are richer than their bosses �thanks to good old revenue sharing,� which he called �not the American way.� Steinbrenner saved his most irrational explanation for why small-market teams struggle, invoking �socialism, communism, whatever� as the culprits.

Anyone with sense, of course, will treat Hank like the raging bull he is, which is to say, allow the beast to charge (and vent) until it�s exhausted. With any luck, Steinbrenner will fade into the background, just as he did for most of 2009 and 2010.

In the interim, the Yankees became his brother Hal�s team, more smoothly run, a model of professionalism, even if last season ended in disappointment. Hank used the devastating ALCS loss to the Rangers as an excuse to step in front of Hal this week. Observers say Hank was tired of being eclipsed, the way his father eventually resented how Joe Torre became the face of the organization in the mid- to late-�90s.

It�s anyone�s guess whether Hank and Hal will compete for power, if not for exposure. Hank�s impact in the clubhouse is relative, at least with players as grounded as Jeter. The captain maneuvered carefully around the flap, saying he had �no problem� with an owner speaking his mind.

Steinbrenner must�ve realized how foolish he�d sounded a day earlier, insisting the reference to those �mansions� wasn�t directed at Jeter � it merely was a �euphemism.�

Even in trying to defuse the story, Hank was too clumsy for his own good: Of course he was talking about Jeter, who lives in a recently constructed home on Davis Island � the biggest residential structure in Hillsborough County.

When Yankee officials whispered that the size of Jeter�s home was a reflection of his ego, not one of them, even in the most acrimonious stretches of the contract negotiations, questioned the shortstop�s competitive edge.

Hank, however, had a problem with the �mansions,� which he equated to opulence. In his mind, opulence is complacency�s embryo. The logic was too weak for Hank to repeat it a second day. He finally admitted, �You don�t get five (World Series) rings by being complacent.�

Yet, Steinbrenner couldn�t back down altogether. He continued to insist the Yankees weren�t as driven in 2010 as they were in �09, to which even Girardi, the ultimate company man, had to disagree.

More detail about Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity

Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity

Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity already on Hot News Today, So If you are a baseball lover here you go if you want to know about your baseball favorite team. You will got someting new with Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity article.

There�s nothing like a rambling, underinformed, hot-air rant from someone named Steinbrenner to whisk us back to the bad old �80s � you know, that Yankee dark age when the franchise was soaked by lunacy�s constant drizzle (courtesy of you know who).


The Bombers were treated to more of the same in the last two days, except it wasn�t George who barged his way on to the back pages of the tabloids. It was his rogue son Hank, the more reckless, albeit more interesting of the two siblings, who decided to take on Derek Jeter, of all people.

Understand this about the shortstop: His star power isn�t what it used to be, certainly not after being taken down during last fall�s contract negotiations. Another .270-something season and Jeter will learn the hard way that New York�s love of its superstars isn�t limitless.

But for now, Hank is no match for Jeter�s celebrity, which is why any criticism of the �mansions� the shortstop supposedly was building while the Yankees were falling short of the World Series in 2010 is more amusing than it was insulting.

Still, the idea that Hank is once again on the loose after a two-year hiatus could mean trouble, if not for Jeter, then for Joe Girardi and especially Brian Cashman, who�s in the final year of his contract.

The team�s hierarchy understands many, many things have to go right for the Yankees to prevail in October, assuming they even get there. This delicate equation depends not just on the emergence of credible fourth and fifth starters (and a bounce-back season from Jeter), but on good chemistry and competent management � two factors that Hank has a chance to nuke.

He is very much the �80s version of his father: demanding, unfiltered, boisterous. But while George was an astute businessman a shark, no doubt � Hank acts and sounds like a knee-jerk, one-dimensional thinker

Hank, for instance, said some of today�s players are richer than their bosses �thanks to good old revenue sharing,� which he called �not the American way.� Steinbrenner saved his most irrational explanation for why small-market teams struggle, invoking �socialism, communism, whatever� as the culprits.

Anyone with sense, of course, will treat Hank like the raging bull he is, which is to say, allow the beast to charge (and vent) until it�s exhausted. With any luck, Steinbrenner will fade into the background, just as he did for most of 2009 and 2010.

In the interim, the Yankees became his brother Hal�s team, more smoothly run, a model of professionalism, even if last season ended in disappointment. Hank used the devastating ALCS loss to the Rangers as an excuse to step in front of Hal this week. Observers say Hank was tired of being eclipsed, the way his father eventually resented how Joe Torre became the face of the organization in the mid- to late-�90s.

It�s anyone�s guess whether Hank and Hal will compete for power, if not for exposure. Hank�s impact in the clubhouse is relative, at least with players as grounded as Jeter. The captain maneuvered carefully around the flap, saying he had �no problem� with an owner speaking his mind.

Steinbrenner must�ve realized how foolish he�d sounded a day earlier, insisting the reference to those �mansions� wasn�t directed at Jeter � it merely was a �euphemism.�

Even in trying to defuse the story, Hank was too clumsy for his own good: Of course he was talking about Jeter, who lives in a recently constructed home on Davis Island � the biggest residential structure in Hillsborough County.

When Yankee officials whispered that the size of Jeter�s home was a reflection of his ego, not one of them, even in the most acrimonious stretches of the contract negotiations, questioned the shortstop�s competitive edge.

Hank, however, had a problem with the �mansions,� which he equated to opulence. In his mind, opulence is complacency�s embryo. The logic was too weak for Hank to repeat it a second day. He finally admitted, �You don�t get five (World Series) rings by being complacent.�

Yet, Steinbrenner couldn�t back down altogether. He continued to insist the Yankees weren�t as driven in 2010 as they were in �09, to which even Girardi, the ultimate company man, had to disagree.

More detail about Yankees� Hank Steinbrenner no match for Derek Jeter�s celebrity