The Yankees are showing their age, led on also by the contracts granted to Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and down the line possibly the deal that Mark Teixeira has. And forget about the rumors Monday surfacing that the Yankees had a potential deal going with the cross-town Mets for Carlos Beltran.

With the first installment of the Subway Series at Yankee Stadium Friday night, Beltran rumors only add to headlines as the two teams play the first of six games, the other three next month at Citi Field. But, seriously speaking, with the Yankees slipping and the Mets trying to stay competitive, it certainly is different to see the Yankees getting controversial headlines.

Does Posada get the blame for pulling himself from the lineup an hour before the first pitch Saturday night, reportedly because he was put ninth in order of manager Joe Girardi, or was it a bad back that Posada reportedly had? And was the situation handled properly by the Yankees? That is a question still under review, though the Yankees say that the problem is in the past and it is time to move on.

But where do the Yankees go from here is the ultimate question. Girardi handled the awkward situation graciously and offered a sympathetic tone about Posada, a catcher turned to a fulltime designated hitter with a .155 batting average and hitless against left handed pitching.

This is drama, maybe more than the theatre that was played when the late George Steinbrenner picked up the phone in anger and called the Yankees dugout as a game was in progress.  Posada, from reports, wanted an immediate release form the team, but the realization is that would be difficult to do with the huge salary and last year of a contract.

But from all intents and purposes, and from a perspective of those who analyze and break down baseball, the beginning of more to come is now a part of these New York Yankees. How do you part with Posada, a 17-year career Yankee, a five-time all-star and part of that core four of players that contributed big time to five world championships?

It is a dilemma that the captain, Jeter, also has to address. Because Jeter, the 36-year old shortstop and showing signs of decline, signed a lucrative contract that takes him through the 2013 season with an option for another year. And on the verge of reaching the 3,000 career hit milestone, and if Jeter continues to decline, do the Yankees have another aging player and another Posada situation?

In all probability, the Yankees look to avoid any similarity. But listen to how Jeter responded to all the Posada talk. He defended his longtime teammate. But the Yankees hierarchy spoke to their captain Monday down in Tampa Florida before the start of a series with the first place Rays.

“If I thought he did something wrong, I’d be the first to tell him,” Jeter said when asked by reporters about Posada. He said there was no need for Posada to apologize to his teammates, yet reportedly team President Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman and managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner seriously contemplated releasing Posada.

And after speaking with Jeter Monday, everyone is on the same page. But are they? Because Posada is not helping the Yankees with his lack of hitting and the damage has been done. When Jeter supported Posada, it was more than being a longtime friend or, as he said supporting someone that he considers a brother.

It was also about Jeter’s future, and the long term commitments that the Yankees have made with an aging roster of players. The Yankees learned a lesson about Posada and Jeter was obviously consulted about not putting the organization in a similar situation, if and when the skills of Jeter continue to decline.

There is a consensus that owners are getting away from the long term contracts and going more towards homegrown talent from their minor league system. The Kansas City Royals offer an example. In the Bronx last week, the Royals took two of three from New York.

A Royals franchise with a $50 million dollar payroll, enriched with young talent that has Baseball America listing them with the top prospects in the game and on the verge of being one of the premiere teams in the game. In essence getting away from the long term lucrative contract may be something for the Yankees to examine as an aging roster of players is coming to fruition.

Posada has become a victim of the aging ballplayer with a contract granted out of loyalty, as the Yankees do have that generous approach of taking care of their core/franchise player. Perhaps, when Bernie Williams felt insulted a few years ago, and then walked away, it was the right move.

For the moment, as the Yankees say, the Posada dilemma is over. But is it? Because through all of this, the Yankees have to still figure a way to win ballgames and hope the Mets don’t cause additional embarrassment when they come to the Bronx Friday night.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

His passion is baseball, reporting games for radio stations in the tri state area, and now scoring a good amount of Yankees and Mets games as the guy who determines a hit from an error on the field up in the press box where we sit. A fan of the New York Mets contemplate when good fortune will return for their franchise because the team is off to their third worse start since their inception in 1962.

So here is Karpin, during the past year, in between scoring games, doing his research. And plenty of going back in time to select the greatest wins in Mets history and for those who joke about the Mets, they would say, “How many great games have the Mets played?

There could be more than the 162 games that Karpin chronicled in his latest work, “Imagine a Mets Perfect Season – 162-0” published by Triumph Books. Yes, 162 games, the schedule for a team in regular season play. But the Mets going 162-0, especially for a Mets fan is far from reality.

“The nature of the game-the grind of a 162-game season does not lend itself to team perfection as it does in the National Football League or college football,” says Karpin. “There have been undefeated teams in both pro and college football, but not in baseball. Nor is it likely to ever happen. But within the boundaries of this book, it does happen to the Mets.”

Meaning, as Karpin, says, “In nearly 50 years of existence, the New York Mets have provided many memorable regular season moments.” Of course, always remembered was the run to a World Series championship in 1969 and how the Mets became the team in New York City.

The memorable moments, that is a theme about the 162 games that are highlighted by Karpin. Because as every Mets fans knows, there have been more than a share of unmemorable moments, a huge amount at their old ballpark, Shea Stadium, in Flushing Queens.

You don’t have to be a fan of the New York Mets to share in the memories that Karpin recaps. There is the emotional game of the first sporting event in the city since the September 11, 2011 disaster. Titled “Emotions Run Deep in Tribute to Post 9/11 America,” the game at Shea Stadium against the Atlanta Braves, a game where rivalries meant nothing and a start of the healing process in New York.

There is no particular order of significant games with the 162 that Karpin recaps so well. “The history of the Mets was thoroughly researched to put together a mythical, undefeated season,” says current New York Mets third baseman David Wright who provided a perfect foreword to the book.

“In this book, time is no problem,” says Wright. So well put because you can don’t have to go from page-to-page, and the summations of each game are captured with the highlights Mets and baseball fans always remember.

Because the Mets, as much as they have become the secondary baseball team in New York, have a brief and interesting history, though not as long, as the Yankees on the other side of town. The managers and players that have worn the uniform have been interesting personalities from Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver to the Hall of Fame New York outfielder, the great Willie Mays.

“From the very first season of 1962 to the miraculous championship year of 1969, to a second world title in 1986, right up until a new era at Citi Field, the Mets have put together a glorious history in their own right,” says Karpin.

Each game selected is chronicled by month, again in no particular order. The box score of some games and photos of the players that are a part of this 162-0 season provide smiles for Mets fans that have not much to be happy about as of late. And there are of course, some of the less memorable moments.

The book is dedicated to the memory of Bill Shannon, the longtime official scorer of New York baseball and writer who tragically passed away last October. A longtime friend of Karpin who gave him his opportunity to score games in the press box, Shannon was an inspiration in putting this must read together.

Because as everyone knows, in New York the Yankees have been the memorable team, but after going through the pages of these 162 games, it certainly appears the past 49 years have been memorable for the New York Mets.

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

But it was a decision that the Yankees had to expect and an adjustment they will cope with on the field and in the clubhouse. The past three years there has been speculation as to when Pettitte, third on the Yankees all-time win list would call it quits.

General Manager Brian Cashman knew the day was coming, even though there was hope that Pettitte would reconsider and give him one more year. Because the Yankees pitching rotation is that much thinner without Pettitte, the 38-year old lefthander who set a major league record for postseason wins at 19-10.

Cashman had that look of disappointment hoping he would get another year out of the lefthander. He wasn’t saying much as to where the Yankees go from here with their pitching rotation.  They made some minor moves in the past few weeks signing veterans Bartolo Colon and Freddie Garcia to spring training deals, obviously knowing that this day was coming.

And is always the case with the Yankees, they won’t sit still. They always have a way of filling a void at some juncture before or during the season. However it is quite clear, at the moment, that Pettitte will not pull a Bret Favre or Roger Clemens fiasco and decide that he needs to be back on the mound.

However Petitte did not rule out a return. He said he can still pitch and would be ready to throw when pitchers and catchers report to Tampa for spring training in 12 days. “I’m one hundred percent not playing this season,” he said with a smile, “but I can never say never.”

“It just didn’t feel right for me anymore,” said Pettitte claiming he felt he was done when he left Arlington Stadium in October when the Yankees season ended with a loss to the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series. “I didn’t have the hunger, the drive I felt I needed,” he said.

And when Bernie Williams walked in the conference room, as Pettitte was talking, the emotions were flowing. They were teammates for the four championship teams under manager Joe Torre, a part of the core four with Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter that remain.

“Those guys are huge reasons why I have been so successful,” he said.  And the reason he returned to the Yankees after pitching three years with the Houston Astros was to get another ring, be with the core again, and pitch at the new Yankee Stadium.

He said, “Coming Back here helping them win another championship was extra special.”  There was some mention about his decision having to do with appearing as a witness this summer at the trial of his former teammate Clemens, who lied to a congressional committee and a denial of using performance enhancing drugs.

“That has not had any affect,” said Pettitte, “I mean zero in my decision. It’s had no impact in my life.”

The next chapter in his life is spending time with his family down in Texas, watching his son play baseball, his girl play volleyball and having summer vacations with the family.  There is always the possibility that Pettitte could return to the Yankees family as a coach, or as a broadcaster, and there will be an invite to Oldtimer’s Day with other Yankees legends.

Manager Joe Girardi sat in the front row along with Cashman leaving the spotlight to Pettitte and his wife at the podium. “We will miss the relationships we had with him back in the clubhouse,” said Girardi knowing also that there is definite void now in his pitching rotation.

Pettitte finishes his career second in starts as a Yankee pitcher, behind Whitey Ford with a 240-138 record and 3.83 ERA. Hall of Fame numbers perhaps for his post season exploits.

For now Pettitte retires as a Yankee and hopefully there is no desperation from the Yankees hierarchy to lure him back if there is indeed a need for pitching in mid season.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Instead it was WBA super welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and two-time champion Ricardo Mayorga doing the talking for their upcoming “Relentless” title fight Saturday March 12^th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  Showtime Championship Boxing will televise the event that will also include Yori Foreman taking on top ten- contender Pawel Wolak in a 10-round super welterweight bout.

There was King doing his thing. Flamboyant as ever, King who is no longer considered a major player, has his hopes that Mayorga will take the title away from Cotto. This was a fight under discussion last year even before Mayorga tested the waters in mixed martial arts.

Cotto is still a viable champion and if victorious could get his redemption against Antonio Margarito at Madison Square Garden in June. But looking ahead has never been a motive for Cotto. He leaves that to Arum, his promoter and is looking for another dominant fight after disposing Foreman at Yankee Stadium in New York last June.

So we saw a different type of Cotto at the podium. Mayorga has a habit of bringing out the best in an opponent especially when the lights and cameras are on. There was no cigarette in the mouth of Mayorga, or a liquor bottle in his hand that has been customary, just combatant words from Mayorga that had Cotto on edge and ready to respond when he had the opportunity.

And through it all, King was silent. Perhaps the one time most powerful promoter in the sport has seen age and less power take its toll. Mayorga did the talking, and so did Cotto in what could be an interesting and perplexing fight that was good enough for Showtime and not HBO to take an interest.

Mayorga predicted a fourth round knockout, and it got better. “I have been watching all your fights the past four months, you are punch drunk,” he said to the champion from Cagaus Puerto Rico. “You can’t take a punch anymore and I will retire him. You and your trainer (Emanuel Steward) will fall.”

And with those words, and much more, Cotto went to work. Much more of the fighting words not usually heard from the champion at one of his press conferences. Because Mayorga compared Cotto’s hands to a woman and said he never liked him as a fighter.

The tone from Cotto was much different and of course assertive   He has never backed down from a challenge and certainly not this one  “My job is to fight in the ring,” answered Cotto who has held a world title every year since 2004 winning 15 of the 17 world championship belts he has held. “Nobody wins a fight with their mouth,” he said.

Both fighters have been in the ring with some of the best including Manny Pacquiao, Felix Trinidad and “Sugar” Shane Mosley. “Like Margarito, after the Pacquiao fight, you will be thinking of retiring after I am done with you,” said the 37-year old Mayorga, (28-7-23KO’s).

There were references to Cotto being “as small as a kid,” and “I think my pants are taller than you.” Of course more fire coming from Mayorga. This should make the fight more interesting in the weeks ahead. King was smiling again, but Cotto wasn’t because references to retirement and the ugly loss to Margarito only make him more confident.

What to watch before March 12^th is how well Cotto works again with Steward who will be in his corner for the second time. The two adapted well when Cotto stopped Foreman.

“Mayorga is a very tough man physically and mentally,” said Steward. “Forget about boxing, he is a fighter. He is going to come out and throw punches from all angles. He will probably come into the ring about 170 pounds.”

And Cotto kept talking as Mayorga did his usual interrupting. “I didn’t interrupt you, so don’t interrupt me,” he said to the challenger “The door is open there if you want to leave. With those little pants I beat Shane Mosley…do you remember him, Shane Mosley,” referring to how Mayorga  lost by knockout to Mosley in their title bout back in 2008.

Yes, a fight that will draw some interest and speculation as to who will prevail, and a win for King if his fighter Mayorga is victorious.  For Cotto a win leads to getting closer to a redemption fight with Margarito.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Joyce Kilmer Park was spelled incorrectly, “Klimer” on a destination map that fans hardly notice. But Bill Shannon noticed things like this, the name of a famous American journalist and poet spelled incorrectly at Yankee Stadium.  It was one of the many great memories that this writer had with Shannon who tragically passed away Tuesday morning.

A three-alarm fire at his small home in West Caldwell, NJ became news to all of us who were blessed to know Shannon as a colleague and friend. The 69-year old journalist, historian, and master when it came to the game of baseball could not get rescued from a second floor bathroom window that he tried to shatter.

Shannon had a 93-year old mother, who he tended to daily. She was able to get out of the house safely and was taken to a nearby hospital. Her only son, Bill would leave to attend to his duties as an official scorer for Mets and Yankee games at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium, and also assisted the Associated Press with clubhouse reporting.

So we, those in the media that were his friends and colleagues are feeling the loss. Hours after word came about the tragic news, there were the many tributes and a feeling of loss as to how the press box won’t be the same when we converge again at the ballparks in April.

Howie  Karpin of the Bronx, a radio reporter,  became a successful official scorer and will miss his mentor Bill Shannon.  It was always the concept of an official scorer to come from the ranks of print media and not from radio and television reporters.

“I had been covering Mets and Yankees games since 1980 and got to know Bill from being at the ballpark,” says Karpin who writes a daily baseball blog, ’3Balls-2 Strikes.’  “I was always fascinated by the official scorer’s role and like anyone who sits in the press box I would add my two cents to any of the scoring decisions that were being made.”

It was the beginning of what Karpin describes as he and Bill Shannon “being on the same page.”  The crazy idea of becoming a scorer came to fruition. “Bill Shannon went on the limb in the late 1990’s and convinced Phyllis Merhige, who was in charge of the official scorers through out Major League Baseball to give me a chance to be a scorer.”

“The rest is history,” as Karpin says.  Since that first game at the old Yankee Stadium in September of 1998, Bill Shannon was always there as a mentor and friend.  And it was that way with yours truly, to all members of the media who made a habit of greeting Bill when he arrived for the first pitch and took his perch in the official scorer’s seat that determines a hit or an error.

There was the detailed explanations about the rule book, and stories about the game he covered so well when writing for the Associated Press and other publications. When we had a question, Bill Shannon was the one who had the answer.

But you had to be prepared for an extensive explanation.  You asked one question and there was more to come. Enough to write a book, some he wrote so well including “The Ballparks” about the history of Major League ballparks. Versatile also in other sports, he assisted with statistics at New York Jets football home games, at his alma mater, Columbia University, and editing “The Official Encyclopedia of Tennis” for the United States Tennis Association.

Recall when this reporter was a rookie in that same year of 1980 with Howie Karpin. One of the first to say hello in the press rooms at Yankee and Shea Stadiums was Bill Shannon. “Welcome,” he would say with that voice of authority and sincerity.

And he would always be the first to say hello when passing through a crowded press box with a Pepsi cup in his hand. He knew the rules when it came to a potential postponement of a game, and was good for conversation to pass time until they took the tarp off and resumed play. Always receptive to explain a rule after a controversial play and loved being around his extended family of friends who cover the game of baseball from April until late October.

In essence, Shannon was as an official scorer for Major League Baseball and an ambassador to all of us in the press box.

That unique style of reading the pitching line that could be imitated but never duplicated. He gave the pitching line numbers and the unique pause, “and…twooo strikeouts” at the end of the line. You heard that the first time and wanted to hear it again for the other starting pitcher, and those who came out of the pen.

Karpin will always have his mentor looking down on him, and surly the Yankees and Mets will pay tribute to Shannon who was truly the dean of official scorers in New York.

There would always be the conversation. “Bill, you will die at the ballpark,” because he missed very few games during the course of a New York baseball season.  We never expected to hear that it would end the way it did on Tuesday at his home in New Jersey.

And something says on next opening day in the Bronx, when the pitching lines are read and when the final lines are read, someone will try and duplicate what Shannon always did.

It will be a deserving tribute as we try and comprehend why Bill Shannon is no longer scoring games in the press box. And one thing is certain. He left the scoring seat in good hands with guys like Karpin and a few others.

God Bless You always my friend!

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com-

It’s simple. The Yankees are on a mission to repeat as champions, and step one was accomplished with a three-game sweep over the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS.  Phil Hughes won 18 games this season and his first career post season start Saturday evening at Yankee Stadium was memorable. He propelled himself into a post season pitcher, and also answered the skeptics with his outing, a 6-1 win.

The Yankees for the first time as a wild card team advanced to the ALCS and for a second consecutive time in October swept the Twins in the best-of five divisional series. In doing so, they won their ninth straight over the Twins in post season play.

It is the fourth ALCS series appearance for the Yankees since 2003.And they now have a formidable three in the rotation with CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Hughes. Perhaps better than the three of last October that included A.J. Burnett, who struggled this season and will get the start in game 4 when the series comes to the Bronx next week.  Javier Vasquez will be regulated to the pen or left off the roster.

“I really loved his stuff tonight,” said Yankees Manager Joe Girardi about Hughes after the series sweep over the Twins, “He located well. He was outstanding. This is not easy. As I said all year long this is hard work,” he said about advancing and elaborating about how his team makes it difficult for other teams to win.

“Pitching, we pitched well,” said Derek Jeter as the Yankees got a good outing from Hughes as their number three starter, and wins from Sabathia in game one and Andy Pettitte in game two. These three could make it difficult for the Rangers to win.

If the Rangers trail in the series when they come to the Bronx, or even if the Yankees come home next week trailing 0-2 in the series, there is the launching yard of Yankee Stadium that make Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher a formidable one, two, three in the lineup that can change the complexion of a game.

That has been seen time and time again, The Yankees never facing the final out in October. Gone is the horrible September stretch of losing 17 of their last 28 games as the pitching, timely hitting, and bullpen came together again in the three-game sweep over the Twins.

For the first time in the nine post season games against Minnesota, the Yankees got on the board first. Robinson Cano started the second with a triple and Jorge Posada drove him home with a single. Cano is a possible MVP of the American League and has the proficiency of hitting the Rangers pitching staff,

The single by Posada was his 41^st career post season RBI surpassing Mickey Mantle for ninth on the Yankees all-time list, one of the core four of the Joe Torre managed championship teams, He wants another ring, though his ability to throw out runners is not as proficient. The Rangers rely more on the extra base hit and long ball, and will play small ball even if it means taking the extra base off Posada.

“It was a big win for us now we need eight more,” said Marcus Thames the designated hitter who became one of the prized additions that GM Brian Cashman acquired during spring training. It seems Cashman always gets the right players. Last October, and into November, it was Eric Hinske and Jerry Hairston Jr, who became unsung heroes.

The 24-year old Hughes was the youngest Yankee stating pitcher to start a post season game since Andy Pettitte in 1995. Making his first career post season start, he allowed one ball out of the infield the first three innings, giving up four hits in his first six innings of work. Hughes was able to get out of a two-out jam in the sixth, striking out Jason Kubel with two on, pitching seven shut out innings and walked one, and has made an immediate impression that he can be a post season pitcher.

“It’s World Series or it’s going to be a disappointing season for us,” said Teixiera.  And that is always the attitude of the Yankees, especially when they get to October even if they have lost some momentum with a six-day hiatus before the ALCS.

And then there is the Mariano Rivera factor. He can still get the four out save, as he did in game one of the ALDS against the Twins appearing in all three games.  Gone and forgotten are the blown saves in September. Until proven otherwise, Rivera has the post season experience and command to close the game, an advantage over Texas closer and rookie Neftali Feliz.

Kerry Wood, Boone Logan, David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain have become a reliable quartet out of the pen before getting to Mariano or taking over if starters don’t go long. Though there are always questions about Chamberlain, and Wood struggled when in came in for Hughes in the clinching game against the Twins.

Texas has a problem closing games at home, so the Yankees have an advantage in the first two games at Arlington.

“They do a very good job getting those guys ready over there,” said Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire about Girardi and his coaching staff, especially in the post season as the Yankees may have the advantage in the first two games. Their pitching staff is rested, enough for Sabathia to be strong for game 1.

In the mean time Cliff Lee, the premiere starter for Texas started  game 5 in the decisive ALDS Series Tuesday night. So the Yankees will not see Lee at least for a game 2, more likely game 3 in the Bronx Monday night.

It is one more step closer for the Yankees to their 41st American League pennant and defense of their world championship. But the Yankees realize there are eight more wins to go before they can get championship number 28.

The difference though is they need to win the first two on the road, or split before coming home.  Not having home field advantage this time could eventually decide the outcome if indeed the series goes to a seventh and decisive game.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com.

What took Fred and Jeff Wilpon so long to pull the plug and finally make their move to fix this “Mess” in Flushing at Citi Field? They made a rare and must appearance together Monday at Citi Field. They addressed their public, the fans.

Jeff and Fred, father and son gave their assessment and had to give the answers. Because they saw the empty seats at their new and sparkling ballpark these past two Septembers. The fans truly had their voice heard by staying home and finding something better to do than watching losing baseball.

So, where do we go from here? Minaya collects another year of his million dollar salary and contemplates what to and surly knows the new GM will not require his services. Manuel goes home to Sacramento, picks up some rocks and reflects on what went wrong during his tenure in the dugout

And Mets fans wonder, will they see pennant winning baseball in the near future? As one Mets insider said to yours truly last week, “It will take another five years to clean what Omar put together.” Truly believe that it will be that long a duration if Fred and more so, Jeff, move visible, and the CEO, allows the new GM to have full autonomy on baseball decisions.

You see it never worked that way across the Robert F, Kennedy Bridge in the Bronx. Though Brian Cashman supposedly has most if not all the baseball decision making at Yankee Stadium, we all know the late George Steinbrenner made the final call about player acquisitions, scouting, development, and the overall baseball operation including the manager.

The new regime for the Yankees, the sons, Hal and Hank, Randy Levine and company will make it known that Cashman has that autonomy, But we all know the Steinbrenner billion dollar empire knows baseball. They make the final decisions as Cashman gives them their evaluation and opinion. As much as Fred and Jeff said that losing made them suffer, and as Fred said, “We don’t pick baseball players, we never had,” perhaps they should hand the team over to people or investors that know baseball.

They trusted their money with Minaya. The Mets this year, with the fifth highest payroll in baseball will carry about $130 million of that into next year, coming off another fourth place finish and second straight losing year at Citi Field.

Just a brief overview of the “Mess” Minaya hands over to the new regime, and it does not matter who the new head of command will be, Or who the new manager is. Whether it is Wally Backman or Bobby Valentine, or someone else, the new field general will have to suffer with more losing.

Because the youngsters that Manuel put on the field in August, and in September have a lot to prove. They could be parts of the rebuilding via a trade or two. Or continue to develop with the right manager and coaches in place.

What to do with the Minaya “Mess” that comprised these Mets the past few years?  You can’t love Omar “like a son” as Fred Wilpon said Monday because of this: It’s October and the Mets are once again in hibernation.

Because Oliver Perez is owed another $12 million of a $36 million dollar contract and in two of those years the Mets pitcher had a 6.81 ERA in 31 mound appearances, and did not make a start this season after May 14^th.

Because Luis Castillo with his four- year $25 million contract extension hit .235 this year, had his share of injuries and most of the second half sat on the bench and second base went to youngsters Luis Hernandez and Ruben Tejada.

Because when a Mets top prospect Fernando Martinez was a hot item, and a coveted trade commodity, numerous opportunities to get value for Martinez were bypassed. Martinez became a true disappointment and now damaged goods with injury after injury.

Because the Mets never had a reliable closer on the mound, even with bad boy Francisco Rodriguez and it was Minaya who had no hope for Heath Bell who was traded to San Diego for Ben Johnson and Jon Adkins. Where are Johnson and Adkins now? No longer with the organization and Bell was second in National League saves this season with the Padres who were in contention.

Because there were so many more bogus transactions done by Minaya that fail to address his sometime success with obtaining Carlos Beltran, Pedro Martinez, Carlos Delgado, plus giving Jose Reyes and David Wright extended contracts,

Said Jeff Wilpon “We have a lot of fans out there; we just have to bring them back. And from Fred “I love the New York Mets. I love this franchise.  We made investments that weren’t good investments. We take the responsibility, the buck stops here.”

And it certainly does stop here now. Hopefully, it will end, this “Mess” of the Mets that Minaya caused. Even with some success, one game away from a National League pennant and back to the World Series in 2006. Fred and Jeff now get another opportunity to get it right with a new regime.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

But Swisher has made it a habit of hitting the “walk- off” win this season. The last two Yankees walk-off wins have come off Swisher’s bat, but this one may have been more important as the Yankees prevented Baltimore from the sweep with a 3-2 win Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx.

As they embark on a nine-game road trip that takes them to American league western leading Texas for three, and three to Tampa Bay in what is a key AL east divisional series, the Yankees know how important this win was Wednesday afternoon.

“We put ourselves in a great spot, we just have to keep it going,” said Swisher about where his team stands. The Yankees have 22 games remaining, 15 on the road, two games ahead of Tampa Bay with the best record in baseball.

And his home run, 26^th of the season came at the right time because up until that ninth inning Baltimore pitching once again had the Yankees perplexed at the plate. Right hander Brad Bergesen went 6.1 innings, allowed four hits, and a run, exiting with a 2-1 lead.

With Eduardo Nunez at first, pinch running for Alex Rodriguez who led off the inning with a single, Swisher got hold of a 2-0 pitch and hit it to the opposite field. With a bad knee, Swisher got two hits on the day after going 0-for his last 14.

“The wind was blowing out and it was a big win to end the home stand,” commented Swisher. The Yankees finished 7-3 in their longest home stand of the season.

Yankees starter Ivan Nova allowed two runs on six hits and did not figure in the decision. The bullpen went three innings without allowing a run. Joba Chamberlain (3-4) got the win, and Nova’s only mistake was a 3-0 pitch to Matt Wieters in the fifth that went over the left field fence with one on that gave the Orioles their two runs.

Nova would get out of a jam in the fifth inning. With runners on first and second Orioles’ Cesar Izturis popped out to Derek Jeter at short. That kept the score at 2-1. Nova would pitch one more inning, the sixth and allowed one hit.

“If we lose today it is not a good home stand,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. “It was a big swing,” he said about Swisher’s home run. “Was the whipped cream fresh? They hadn’t done it in a while,” he commented about the traditional “walk-off” cream pie that went in the face of Swisher after the big home run that was hit off Orioles loser Koji Uehara (1-1).

The Yankees snapped a three game losing streak and remain the only team in baseball without a losing streak of at least four games this season.

The Yankees had their chances, and as in their previous three games failed to capitalize with runners on base. Francisco Cervelli ended the seventh grounding out to third stranding Robinson Cano at second and Marcus Thames at first, who pinch hit for Curtis Granderson.

After the game Girardi revealed that catcher Jorge Posada, not in the starting lineup, wasn’t available off the bench. The night before Posada was nipped behind the plate by a foul tip which may have caused a minor concussion.

Posada had a restless night and Girardi said, “He had concussion type symptoms after the game.”  Posada saw the team doctor, was not at the ballpark and met with a neurologist. It was determined that Posada would travel to Texas with the team after tests came back negative.

When asked about Posada’s condition and availability for the upcoming road trip, Girardi said “If tests come back today that are okay we will take him with us.”  Girardi also envisioned the worst possible situation, his starting catcher out indefinitely due to the severity and caution of concussion symptoms.

“I have contemplated not having him a little bit. If that’s the case we will have to deal with it,” he said.  And as of now, the Yankees switch hitting catcher is day-to –day.  However, as with all type of concussion type of symptoms, the Yankees will be cautious and monitor Posada before he is cleared to take the field.

There was concern in the Yankees clubhouse for their teammate. Before the results came in they had no time to reflect on how important the win was that kept the Yankees for the moment two games up on Tampa.

“He’s a big part of our ball club and hopefully he will be back in the lineup in a couple of days,” commented Brett Gardner who drove in the Yankees first run of the day in the third. His double to left scored Curtis Granderson who singled and stole second.

It was Swisher’s third career game ending home run. “I guess it’s my day,” he said. “It’s a monster win for us.  “Obviously it’s a concern,” he said about Posada’s condition.

For the moment the Yankees condition is sitting well despite another brief losing streak. And they do expect Andy Pettitte to rejoin the pitching rotation in the next few days. Pettitte was scheduled to have a rehab assignment at Double A Trenton and if all goes well he could get a start on the road trip.

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

Most would wonder why Pena had to even step in today, well before Friday’s game even got started some sports reporters were on hand to witness a moment that would make most Yankees fans heart drop. As All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who was shagging baseballs during batting practice was drilled by a Lance Berkman ball. The ball made a bee line for Rodriguez’s leg and would leave the slugger on the ground for a good five minutes before paramedics and trainers could attend to the injury.

“I hit it and obviously had a great view of it. I was just [saying], ‘Look out!’” said Berkman who was taking some right-handed at bats at the time. The switch hitter continued by saying, “It was on him. I just remember hitting it and cringing. It was headed right for him. It was hard. I hope he’s not out very long.”

The newly acquired designated hitter felt bad saying, “I just told him when he was coming off the field, ‘Sorry about that.’ I clearly didn’t mean to it wasn’t like I was trying to hit him. That is just one of those things about batting practice. I think we’ve all been hit before.”

Rodriguez finally got up and walked slowly into the New York dugout, to get X-Rays which later turned out to be negative. Thankfully for the 49,716 in attendance Ramiro Pena stepped in and has done what he has all season long, produce with runners in scoring position. Pena who has hit safely in five of his last eight starts, going 7-for-25 for a .280 batting average, with four runs batted in and three runs in those contest.

In Friday’s huge start against the Red Sox Pena was 1-for-3 while driving in two runs. The second run that Pena drove in gave the Yankees the 5-2 lead and the eventually victory. There were other highlights in same game as the utility player put on a display of speed and fine defensive plays helping to turn several ground ball outs for New York.

“Pena has done a tremendous job for us this season,” manager Joe Girardi said of his young utility player after the game. “He has done a really good job for us in many key situations without getting much playing time and it is amazing to see.”

The utility player had this to say of his performance today, “I feel good about it, it was good to be given the opportunity, and it’s tough because of Alex’s injury. You just want to help the team win and that is it-that is my job.”

Pena along with a fifth-inning rally helped to propel the Yankees to a huge Game Two victory over the Red Sox. As the team now improves to 2-3 on their current home stand, that coupled with Tampa Bay’s loss to Toronto helps to extend the Yankees lead in the American League East to 1.5 games.

Also monumental in the victory today was the pitching of lefty C. C. Sabathia, who in recording his 150^th win of his career, benefited from not only a day off but a birth in his family. The starter went eight innings that were of the grind it out variety, giving up six hits, striking out four batters while only giving up two runs one walk and one home run. Two of the biggest strike outs for Sabathia in today’s game were both against designated hitter David Ortiz.

“Sabathia is a guy with a high winning percentage,” Girardi said after the game. “He eats up a lot of innings so usually the bullpen isn’t going to be used on most of the days that he starts.

For Sabathia he was able to snap a two-game losing streak, while winning for the 10^th time in his last 13 starts. The lefty is now undefeated in his last 18 starts at Yankee Stadium since the 2009 All-Star Break, going 13-0 with a 2.25 ERA.

“Sabathia really stepped it up for us today, he only gave up two runs in that first inning and for the most part he shut them down,” Girardi said after the game. “This Boston team still has a lot of dangerous bats and for the most part he was able to shut them down.” The manager would continue to say, “C. C. is a really special pitcher. Who knows maybe by getting this win today he will be on a roll now.”

When asked after the game how he felt the lefty had this to say, “I feel good, my fastball was working today along with my secondary stuff. Overall my command was good and it helped us get the win.” The lefty would also go on to say about the extra day, “It did help, it is an exciting week for us and I am glad to have been able to go out there and get us the win.”

On his milestone Sabathia said, “It is very cool and is something that I will celebrate later on. Right now I am worried about the next start and continue to pitch like I did today.”

Also contributing to the Yankees offense in the victory over the Red Sox was outfielder Curtis Granderson. Who before the game started Girardi had hoped would start to go on a hitting streak. Well nothing starts a hitting streak better than a 2-for-4 day, which includes a hard hit triple (8) off the center field bullpen wall, to set the stage for Pena. The utility player would hit a ground out which would plate Granderson and tie the score 2-2 in that inning.

New York would have that bottom of the fifth-inning rally, as four batters all were able to lace singles. Nick Swisher, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada were all involved in giving New York a 4-2 lead. Posada was able to steal his first base of the 2010 season during Lance Berkman’s at bat to try to force in another run. Unfortunately for the designated hitter, Berkman continued to struggle and heard some boos from the Yankee Universe.

The Skipper is not concerned about his new acquisition saying, “He seems like an even keel guy, I am sure he (Berkman) has been through slumps before and knows how to work his way out of it.”

Leading the way for the Red Sox was starter John Lackey, who did well but could not make it through a very daunting Yankee lineup. The righty went six innings, giving up eight hits while striking out seven batters. Lackey gave up five runs and walked three in what was a solid outing. The lone offense for the Red Sox came off the bats of Victor Martinez who clubbed a home run (10) to left field over the State Farm sign. Adrian Beltre (2-for-4) ripped a double (33) down the left field line to set the stage for Mike Lowell who would bring Beltre home with a double (6) of his own.

Game three of this four-game series will take place on Sunday, August 8 as righty A.J. Burnett (9-9, 4.93 ERA) takes on righty Josh Beckett (3-1, 5.70 ERA) with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. for the ESPN televised game.

Story originally posted on www.latinosports.com

Sheppard was born in Ridgewood, Queens in October 1910. He attended St. John’s College (now University) in Queens. Sheppard studied literature and speech in college. After graduation he became a teacher in the New York City Public School System. Climbed each rung of the ladder of advancement until reaching the position of Speech Department Chairperson at John Adams High School in Ozone Park, Queens.

To supplement the meager income of a public school teacher, he played semipro football on Long Island. Sheppard also served his country as a naval officer during the Second World War. Sheppard married and the couple raised four children.

Sheppard’s long career behind the microphone began in the 1940′s when he announced a charity football game. In 1950, his admired work led to an offer from the New York Yankees to become the team’s public address announcer. He declined because the many day games then played would interfere with his teaching responsibilities.

One year later, Sheppard went to work at Yankee Stadium. His career in the Bronx began on April 17, 1951 and ended on September 5, 2007. During that period, he announced nearly 5,000 baseball games. The Yankees were not the only local sports team that were blessed to have Sheppard announce their games. He worked as the public address announcer for the New York Giants (football) for 50 seasons. He also worked for the New York Titans (AFL), the New York Stars (WFL), the New York Cosmos (NASL) and football and basketball games at St. John’s University, his alma mater.

Sheppard has been the recipient of many honors. These have been received not because of longevity but because of skill. Sheppard had been given honorary degrees by St, John’s and Fordham University. He was honored by the BBWAA and by the Yankees. On May 7, 2000, a plaque honoring him was added to Monument Park, the hallowed ground that honors Yankee immortals. One unofficial but no less moving and important honor is the respect shown Sheppard by Yankee captain Derek Jeter. A recording of the voice of Sheppard announcing Jeter’s name is played before each of Jeter’s trips to the plate in Yankee Stadium.

The announcer was an avid reader who always carried a book he was reading into the Stadium.  He was a devout Catholic who served as a lay reader during services. He was a regular attendee and overseer of the Sunday morning Masses held at the stadium when day games were scheduled. Sheppard ate at the Yankee Dining Room with organist Eddie Layton until the latter’s death. When the new ballpark opened in April 2009, the dining area had been named to honor Sheppard, Bob Sheppard’s Place.

Sheppard is survived by his wife Mary, four children, four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He also carries the respect of all who knew him.