Bronx News Sports: Now This is How You Pitch

Bronx News Sports: Now This is How You Pitch: New York Yankees Dynasty Banner Flag Pettitte Shows Youngsters How Things Get Done (Photos by Gary Quintal) The Yankees Old Man of t...

Now This is How You Pitch

New York Yankees Dynasty Banner Flag

Pettitte Shows Youngsters How Things Get Done

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

The Yankees Old Man of the Mound Andy Pettitte schooled his younger teammates on how to be a dominating pitcher last night. The nearly 40-year-old struck out 10 Tampa Bay batters and allowed only two hits through 7 innings.

Andy’s dominance shut down the Rays as Yankee bats became hot. Russel Martin’s grand slam topped Yankee hitting leading to a 7-0 win over the Rays.

Finally for Mets Fans

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Santana no-hitter one of those good moments for a Mets fan

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 3- There I was, night off from the ballpark, listening and watching my favorite alternative rock band “Weezer” in Atlantic City New Jersey in the Bogata Hotel showroom. It was planned, the birthday gift from three weeks ago. What wasn’t in the plan was Johan Santana throwing a no-hitter at Citi Field on the first day of June.

A Friday evening at Citi Field where, I would usually be situated, upstairs in my perch in the comfortable press box, but the first no-no in New York Mets history, 50-years of futility and I was not there to see it.

Yes, frustration. And moments after Mets SNY Television voice Gary Cohen said after being questioned, ‘did he ever think it would happen, his response, ‘No, but now it has’ Weezer would finish their last number.

That number, “Say it Ain’t So.”

But it is true. After 8,020 games, Mets radio voice Howie Rose, and fans of the second baseball team in New York, can now say, the New York Mets have made baseball history. They are no longer one of two teams to not have a pitcher throw the illustrious no-hitter.

It is so, and the San Diego Padres have that lone distinction.

Mike Baxter, the kid from Queens, crashed into the center field wall on the warning track to keep the suspense going. The Carlos Beltran ball that hit the chalk beyond third base appeared to be an extra base hit. The umpire, according to replays may have got it wrong.

To Mets’ fans, and to Santana, the call went their way. The no-hitter is in the record books and well deserved for a pitcher who many said was finished.

It was back in late March. Santana was not supposed to come north with the team at the end of spring training. The comeback from shoulder surgery, which shut Santana down all last year, was slow and cautious. However, it was soon, according to Santana, working according to the plan.

That plan, which was heard since his opening day start in early April, was continue to make adjustments as this Mets team had trouble scoring runs, but staying competitive. Then the last three starts you sensed the plan was ahead of schedule.

Santana was throwing more pitches, going deeper into games. The change up was effective, so was the slider. The fastball was getting close to his velocity, clocked close to 90, or more.

The manager, Terry Collins was more concerned about the pitch count. Last Saturday, at Citi field, Santana threw 94 pitches, the complete game shutout over the San Diego Padres. Collins let him continue, as he did Friday night with a career high 134 pitches, concerned about the shoulder.

After that sixth inning, Collins asked Santana, “How do you feel?” The ace, who said afterwards, he came to New York “to win a championship for the organization and fans,” told his manager, ‘I feel good, let me continue.’

It was a momentous occasion for a franchise that has been troubled with financial issues .And nothing has seemed to go right since that last game of 2006, when Beltran struck out with runners on base, at Shea Stadium, in game seven of the National League Championship Series. 

That was against the same St. Louis Cardinals who go in the record book as victims of the Santana no-hitter.

It was the first and real significant moment at Citi Field for Mets baseball. Santana erased the close calls of Tom Seaver, the last Mets pitcher to take a no-hitter into the ninth inning. The first one, of three close calls, a perfect game broke up by Jimmy Qualls of the Chicago Cubs in 1969.

It will be remembered what Johan Santana did Friday night. The umpire, Adrian Johnson, at third base, may have missed that Beltran call in the sixth inning. But that does not matter now. Johan Santana may have put the New York Mets back on the map with that outing on the mound at Citi Field.

Just hope “Weezer” does not get in the way again for another possible and maybe another no-hitter in New York Mets baseball history, or perhaps another first, a perfect game as they go into game number 8,021.

E-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

Madagascar in the Bronx

Baby Lemurs make their Zoo debut

Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

BRONX, NEW YORK,  June 1 – A Coquerel’s sifaka, born this spring, clings to its mother’s back as she perches on a branch in the Madagascar! exhibit at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. A collared lemur, also born this spring, curls up to its mother as she reclines on a rock.

All lemur species are endemic to the island nation of Madagascar. Both the sifaka and the collared lemur are seeing dramatic declines in population due to loss of suitable habitat. The IUCN has designated the Coquerel’s sifaka as an Endangered Species and the collared lemur is listed as Vulnerable.

Coquerel’s sifakas spend most of their time in trees and leap effortlessly, launching themselves vertically with their strong legs. Like most species of lemurs, the females are dominant to the males, claiming the choicest food and the best sleeping and sunning spots.

Collared lemurs use their long tails to balance when leaping through the forest canopy. Collared lemurs live in groups of males and females but are not matriarchal like the sifaka and many other lemurs.

There are five species of lemurs on exhibit in Madagascar! along with many other animals unique to the African island. Opened in 2008, Madagascar! educates zoo visitors about the country’s incredible biodiversity and the challenges it faces.

The Wildlife Conservation Society works in Madagascar to protect lemurs and other wildlife. 

To plan your trip, visit www.bronxzoo.com or call (718) 367-1010.

13th Congressional Race Update

100 PERCENT

By Robert Press

NEW YORK, May 29- Congressman Charlie Rangel and current State Senator Adriano Espaillat were in the Bronx Week parade, as the parade route went right through the new 13th Congressional District where both are candidates. However we sat down with another candidate in the race Mr. Clyde Williams. 

Mr. Williams’ concerns are that the district needs have not been met by Congressman Rangel, and that the other candidates lacks the experience to know how Washington works. High unemployment, lack of jobs, poor public education, lack of accountability, and high oil prices are just a few of Mr. Williams concerns. He said that Congressman Rangel has done good work in the past, but that is in the past and this is the present. Tourism is a key to new jobs, and Mr. Williams wants tourists to spend a few days rather than a few hours in the 13th C.D. and the Bronx. New Hotels, Restaurants, and other tourist spots can produce 5,000 new jobs Mr. Williams says.

The disparities in health care and education are enormous, and need to be fixed Mr. Williams said. His experience in working for both Presidents Clinton and Obama will help him achieve his goals of fixing the district. I asked if Mr. Williams was positioning himself for another shot in 2014 or a special election and Clyde Williams said that he is in it to win it. While Mr. Williams is from Harlem he thinks that the key to winning the race are the 200,000 Bronx voters that were placed in the new district. Mr. Ephraim Cruz of “Bronx For Change,” Mr. Ricky Martinez Chairman of “The Committee of 100 Democrats,” and many other Bronxites who have come up with the “Bronx For Clyde” campaign. You can go to my blog archive 13th Congressional District to see more on candidate Clyde Williams and photos of him with two members of his Bronx campaign staff.

Ms. Joyce Johnson (who ran against Congressman Rangel in 2010) is another candidate in the 13th C.D. Race, and in an interview on NY1's “Inside City Hall” she said that “nothing has changed.” “Congress is broken in Washington and in the 13th C.D. Congressman Rangel won the 2010 Democratic primary with 53 percent of the vote against five challengers. This year there are four challengers to him with Community Activist Mr. Craig Schley rounding out the field of candidates.

Speaking of congressional elections could Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. be setting up for a future citywide race for mayor by endorsing some non Bronx candidates? Diaz has endorsed Manhattan congressional candidate Charlie Rangel in the 13th C.D., and Diaz has endorsed Hakeem Jeffries in Brooklyn's 10th C.D. to replace Congressman Ed Towns.

Assemblyman Marcos Crespo hosted his 1st annual “Parent Leader Recolonization Breakfast” on Friday May 25th. Over 50 parent leaders, parent coordinators, and day care directors from the 85th A.D. were honored for their service to help the youth, families, and communities of the 85th A.D.

The Bronx Democratic County Committee Dinner will take place on Thursday July 21st at Marina Del Ray. Cocktails start at 6 p.m., with the dinner and program scheduled to begin at 7 PM. You can go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com to see the list of honorees, and you can call the BDCC at 718-704-7039 to reserve your seat/table or for more information on placing a journal ad.

Don't forget to check my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for more details on these stories, photos of the events, or late breaking items that come in after our deadline. If you have any comments about this column or would like to have an event listed or covered in this column or on my blog you can e-mail us at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com or call 718-644-4199 Mr. Robert Press.

Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, May 28- Get ready for the biggest party in the Bronx when the Puerto Rican Day Parade kicks off on Sunday. Organizers are thrilled to be celebrating the parade’s 25th Anniversary with a march on the Grand Concourse once again.

This year some 120 groups from throughout the country and South America will march up the Grand Concourse in a celebration of the Bronx’s rich Puerto Rican heritage. The parade kicks off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 3rd. Before the parade at 11 a.m. there will be a special ceremony for this year’s honorees. The route has been change to march up the Concourse toward Mosholu Parkway instead of marching down to Yankee Stadium.

The move was in response to the massive amount of traffic that needs to be diverted to accommodate the parade which ends near the Bronx County Courthouse and the House that Jeter Built.

“We’ve gone from a small parade to one of the largest in the borough and the city,” said parade organizer Francisco Gonzalez said. “We’ve asked everyone to participate in the parade and we welcome you as family.”

In addition to inviting all elected officials from throughout the city and country, there will representatives from South America.

Marriacchi bands, Jamaican steel drum bands, motorcycle and car groups, salsa dancers, school bands, West Indian, salsa, Hip Hop and Ragaeton musicians and many more.

This year the parade will honor the works of unions such as DC 37 and 1199.

“We’ve embraced every ethnic group. We’re not excluding anyone,” Gonzalez said. “We’re including everyone.”

A music festival will take place on July 28th called Salsa in the Park at Crotona Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park.

This year’s parade will be extra special because it is the first one in two years. After canceling due to reports of thunderstorms last year, organizers this year are excited to launch the biggest party the borough has ever seen as the parade celebrates its 25th anniversary.

For the first time in over two decades there was no salsa on the Grand Concourse. No Bronxites lining the parade route listening to the music and seeing the sea of performers. Instead heavy morning rains and reports of severe thunderstorms moving into the area forced organizers to call off the parade. 

“We apologize to everyone for canceling last year but we had to consider everyone’s safety,” Gonzalez said.

If anything, organizers say last year’s cancellation has created anticipation for this year’s festivities. There is a great deal of pent up demand for celebration and good news.

For more information go online: www.bxprparade.net

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A-Rod, Andy Double Team Royals

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By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, May 24- Before the New York Yankees took the field Wednesday evening for the finale of a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals in the Bronx, Alex Rodriquez said he was feeling good and in his words said, “Ready to go off.”

Rodriguez, who has not been supplying the power that has been a trademark of his career, meant every word about being ready to get those numbers. His two home run night, and seven strong innings of pitching from Andy Pettitte propelled New York to an 8-3 win at the stadium, taking two of three before heading for a nine- game, three- city road swing.

“I said it with conviction not because it was going to sound good here in my locker but because I felt it,” said Rodriquez about his 60th multi-home run game. “It’s good to back that up.”

His first home run, in the first inning, with a man on gave the Yankees a 3-0 lead ending a 52- at bat homer less stretch. And his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot in the third inning, also off Royals starter and loser Will Smith, (0-1) opened a 5-0 lead for New York.

The left hander Smith, making his Major League debut, allowed five runs in three innings.

“The long ball hurt him tonight,” said Royals manager Ned Yost about Smith.”At times he threw some good breaking balls and other times some pitches got too much of the plate. It’s tough coming in your first start at Yankee Stadium against this club.”

Smith got a taste of the Yankees and the stadium in the first inning. Curtis Granderson homered to deep right on a 1-2 pitch, his 14^th of the year that put New York up 1-0.

He got Derek Jeter to hit a grounder to shortstop leading off the first. Jeter had three hits on the night and tied Paul Wagner for 15^th on the all-time list with 2,152 hits.

“I was nervous a little bit facing a future Hall of Famer to start your career in Derek Jeter,” said Smith who a 22-year old who was called up from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday. “But you still got to go out there and make your pitches and get people out,” he said.

Pettitte (2-1) won his second start and allowed two runs on seven hits, striking out eight. He gave up two solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings to Billy Butler and Mitch Maier.

He has not lost to the Royals since 1999 and has a career mark of 14-3 in 24 games.

“I felt like I’m moving the ball around the zone and that makes it difficult to hit,” Pettitte commented. His curveball was effective. His off speed pitches fooled more than one Royals hitter, and the changeup was vintage Pettitte that helped the Yankees to five previous world championship titles.

As for Rodriquez, who has been getting to the ballpark early and making adjustments, manager Joe Girardi said, “It helps Alex to do it two times in a row. People will stop asking him where’s the power?  The power is there.”

Email Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com and watch and listen to Rich Thursday night live 5:30-7:30pm, Keep it in the Ring on www.inthemixxradio.com

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