Sox SIZZLE while Yanks FIZZLE!

Red Sox v Yankees in the Bronx this weekend and it was almost all SOX all the time. Despite a bump in the road (3-1 loss on Saturday), the Beantown Bombers and their pitching staff ruled the House that Ruth Built. Sox won 5 of 6 in two weekend series against what have become the Wanks of NYC.

Julian Tavarez, Hideki Okajima, Mike Tinlin & THE CLOSAH did the job on the hill for the Sox. Big Pappi, Alex Cora & Manny supplied the power to put the Sox at the top of major League baseball with a record of 16-8. They are 4 up on Toronto (12-12) and lead the last place Yanks by 6.5 games. Not a BAD April BOYZ!!!

Rumors abound about the dumping of Yankee great manager Joe Torre - but that is a story for another day.

Let's "Celebrate and have good times.....come on!" The Sox have won another Series vs Yanks in this young season.

Former Sox Prospet Mourned

Cardinals mourn loss of pitcher Josh Hancock

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals were informed this morning by the St. Louis Police Department of the tragic death of pitcher Josh Hancock, 29, who was killed in an auto accident on westbound Highway 64/40 within the city limits.
Cardinals' Manager Tony La Russa informed Josh's father of this tragic event. Major League Baseball representatives have also been notified and tonight's 7:05 p.m. game with the Chicago Cubs has been postponed.

The Cardinals and the St. Louis Police Department will make a brief statement to the news media at 3 p.m. CDT in the Busch Stadium interview room.

Hancock, who is single, has been a member of the St. Louis Cardinals since February of 2006 and helped the team to its 10th World Series title last Fall.

The Cardinals ask that all fans join the team in offering their prayers and condolences to Josh Hancock's family on this very sad day for the Cardinals and Major League Baseball.

Thomas A. Yawkey Baseball League

src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYb8V3G4UMg4YSwYSQ78FZiWS7y-tJRImVpfl7S_kq45a8sT_r8F6YGeZA84rFLPMQT9ifN2jtu_mdG6Uh2myZSpLqHcjBdKj-YA7SVHxuJ1zdXbZ0TPEx0AsITJZNZevScP7A7Mo_AVg/s320/YBL_Heading_BW_110.jpg" border="0" /> www.yawkeybaseball.com

Dan Ciocca Shines For UMASS - BEACONS!

http://www.athletics.umb.edu/

Danny Ciocca - McKay Club All Star '06 has taken the UMASS Boston Beacons by storm in 'o7. Danny has been a leading hitter:

.283Ave; 46AB; 14R; 13H 10RBI; .355SLUG; .375OBP.

Dan pitched in 3 games and has roamed the outfield for the Beacons this spring posting a perfect 1.000 fielding average.

The Newton native has become a Dot Rat, taking up residence in the Harbor Point Area close by the UMass Campus. Ciocca is a bull-dog player, who loves every aspect of the Game and plays it very well. he is a tremendous team-mate, who looks out for "his own" and will never make a mental error. Danny is a student of the game - PURE and SWEET at the stick & afield.

Much is expected from this 21yo by his team in the Yawkey League!

UMASS - BOSTON BEACON BASEBALL HISTORY

Baseball has been a part of the UMass Boston athletic department since 1982, and since then, has evolved into one of the more respected programs in the region.

The Beacons are a member of the Little East Conference, which has established itself as the most challenging Division III leagues in the nation since its inception. Little East teams won the NCAA championship in each of the conference's first two years as a baseball-playing league, and from top to bottom, the conference fares exceptionally well against teams from other alignments.

Under the guidance of head coach Brendan Eygabroat, UMass Boston offers a full fall season and an annual spring trip to Florida to prepare the baseball team for the rigorous spring.

The Beacon program has produced a number of outstanding individual careers in its comparatively brief history, including Steve Coffey, who amassed a then-NCAA record 34-game hitting streak from 1988-89. Dan Duggan - Yawkey League Hall of Fame played for Brighton Sox owns nearly every batting record at UMass Boston, while pitchers Steve Howard and Tim Byrne both received professional tryouts following their UMB careers.

THAAAAAAA YANKEEEEEESSSS LOOOOOOSE! AGAIN!

Dice K - doing his thing on the hill @ Bronx.

YEEEHAAA - Singing, Me & Julio are down by the Ball Yard!!!
DICE - K's Yanks in Bronx

Poor Joe is hung over like a "lady-of-the evening" on St. Paddy's Day this AM!!!

Take a Bromo Joe -- there is MORE to come this Aftahnoon!

JOE IN JEOPARDY AS YANKS BOMB
BOSOX HAND TORRE'S TEAM 7TH STRAIGHT LOSS
By GEORGE KING

Taken from April 28, 2007 - NEW YORK POST


April 28, 2007 -- A seven-game losing streak has George Steinbrenner so concerned he is wondering if replacing Joe Torre is the answer.

Last October, The Boss came very close to boxing Torre after the second straight first-round elimination in the postseason. This past Monday, Steinbrenner expressed to Torre how disappointed he was that the Yankees were swept by the Red Sox last weekend in Boston.
Yesterday, the word out of Tampa was that Steinbrenner "was very displeased" about the way his high-priced stable of talent is underachieving and was thinking about a change.
And that was before the Red Sox punished the last-place Yankees, 11-4, in front of 55,005 at Yankee Stadium last night.

Could Torre, who is in the final year of his contract, really be fired before April is finished? Is Torre the reason the starting rotation has melted in the first month and put an alarming workload on the bullpen? Is it Torre's fault the lineup, so potent through 19 games, has gone 20 innings without an extra-base hit?

If Steinbrenner and the voices he is listening to believe the answers are "yes," and if the Yankees get swept this weekend by the Red Sox, it's not out of the realm of the possibility that The Boss could make a change.

Bench coach Don Mattingly and former Yankees catcher Joe Girardi are the names you hear when potential replacements for Torre are mentioned. Working in Girardi's favor is that he has a year of managing experience. Mattingly was moved from hitting coach to bench coach to be groomed as Torre's successor.

Are the Yankees Really This Bad?
Lugo Comes Up Big in Sox' 11-4 RoutBronx Bums Now 6½ Games Behind SoxDice-K Fuzzy for an Inning, But Bounces Back

"It's as frustrating as you can get. It's embarrassing is what it is. It's a joke that I can't go out there and get through six or seven innings right there when the team needs me to do that as bad as they do." -- 4.27.07, Andy Pettitte

From: http://www.bostondirtdog.com/

Big Dave's View

It does my old heart good to the see the Yankees lose. I am not a Hater, but I am a Boston Sports Fan who is sick and tired of seeing NYC be in the forfront of America. Last year the Sox had a tremendous first half and a horrific second half. Could this be a repeat? I doubt it Boys & Girls. Things are much different in the AL East in 2007. The Six, O's & Jays are much - much better now. The yanks are regressing into the bone-yard of the sport.

The Yanks hung on and won the AL East in '06, because they had the balls and determination to do so. 2007 is another story! The once proud - strong Yanks have become "wanks". They lose because they do not pitch well - yes they can still hit. One to eight their lineup is one of the best in baseball history. BUT - the pitching staff has more holes than one of your Pa's old tee shirts and IT smells that bad too.

I know -- wait and see, but let us all enjoy the current fall of the Evil Empire! It is much more fun to win - when you BEAT THE DAMNABLE NY YANKEES.

One McKay can play The Game!!!

Colby College, ME wins 21-6!

Kyle McKay Leads the way.

www.colby.edu/athletics_cs/baseball

Colby's Kyle McKay, left, and University of Maine at Farmington's Matt Judkins rise out of the dust after McKay took second base Thursday in Waterville. Colby won the game 21-6.

Kyle, 20 is a top talent for the Colby team out of the BOOONDOCKS in the hinterlands of ME!

#9's leadership and athletic talent has made the Mules a better team during his two year tenure. Colby Baseball has struggled, but they never give up. That is a true test of a "winner".

Nice to see the boys from Colby, ME got a huge win.

Congrats my buddy!!!

Uncle Buck!!

Colby Baseball team has 26 hits in win over UMF

Contact: William SodomaDate: April 26, 2007

WATERVILLE, Maine --- Corey Martin (Winslow, Maine) and Brian Liberty (Hollis, N.H.) both had four hits as the Colby College baseball team exploded for 26 hits in a 21-6 win over University of Maine at Farmington on Thursday at Coombs Field.

Martin had a pair of doubles among his four hits, scored three times and had one RBI. Liberty added four runs and a double.

The Mules (7-16) led 4-2 after two innings, but then scored six runs in the third, five in the fourth and another five in the fifth.

Tom Salemy (Odessa, Fla.), the NESCAC Player of the Week for last week, remained hot at the plate with three hits, four RBI and a pair of runs. Ryan Conlon (Ridgefield, Conn.) added two doubles among his three hits and also had two runs and four RBI.

Colby had the rare game of having all nine starters with two hits or more. John Murphy (Hingham, Mass.) went 3-for-3 and Kyle McKay (Bedford, N.H.) had two hits, three runs and two RBI. The Mules also received two hits from Robert Tourek (Wexform, Pa.), Craig Cooper (Trumbull, Conn.) and Nick Spillane (Darien, Conn.).

Colby starting pitcher Robert Rosenbaum was the benefactor of all the offense. He earned the victory in striking out four and walking one over five innings. Rosenbaum had just one earned run.

Maine-Farmington (4-14) did have 14 hits in the game. Andrew Bellmore (Monmouth, Mainee) had four hits and Peter McLaughlin (Benton, Maine) went 3-for-3 for the Beavers. Brian Morrison (Saco, Maine), Tyler Hanson (Sanford, Maine) and Phineas Peake (Penobscot, Maine) all had two hits.

Colby plays host to Tufts University at 3:30 p.m. Friday, while the Beavers play a doubleheader at home against Becker College on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Colby 21, Maine-Farmington 6

UMF 110 001 102-----6 14 3
Colby 316 550 01x-----21 25 3

Greg Melanson (L), Bill Ridge (3), Kyle Feltis (5), Scott Hastings (7), Brian Morrison (8) and Tyler Hanson; Robert Rosenbaum (W), Bob Brady (6), Zach Helm (8), Steve Sandak (9) and Kyle McKay, Michael Cuqua (5). 2B: Corey Martin (C) 2, Ryan Conlon (C) 2, Tom Salemy (C), Brian Liberty (C), Robert Tourek (C).

Bloddy SOK-GATE a MESS!

He said - you said I said. BS!!! I am sick of the media in this country. No one can get a story right anymore. Chet Huntley & David Brinkley would never have messed up like this. Check your GD sources man. I like Gary Thorne. He does a very nice job calling play-by-play in the Little League World Series and Regular Season ESPN TV Games. He is a GREAT Hockey announcer.

BUT - Gary --- stay a way from the BS rumor mill - PLEASE!

Another outsider comes to Boston and claims to 'be in the know". We all know that the SOK WAS BLODDY! Hell Schill missed almost the entire 2005 season. Now this story is part of a huge mill of chat on the talk waves. It is fodder for the haters and rumor mill churn.

Leave the monumental effort made by a true Boston Hero - Curt Schilling alone!

Willie MO --- What a BLOW!!!!!!!!!

Willie Mo Pena turned the BOOOOO Birds into Cheering Eagles last night.

Willie put the Sox ahead with an 8th inning Grand Salami @ Camden Yards. Josh Becket logged his 5th victory without a loss in the 5-2, two game sweep of the O's. The bomb struck by Pena could still be flying if it were in an open field!

Way to GOOOO WILLIE MOOOOO!!!!!

Josh Becket of the Red Sox is off to a GREAT 2007 start. Let's hope this spring is a picture into the future for the prospective 2007 Cy Young Candidate!

STRONG STARTS
Josh Beckett joins Babe Ruth (1917) and Pedro Martinez (2000) as the only Red Sox pitchers to win five games in the month of April. In team history, 11 pitchers have won at least their first five starts in a year:

Starts won Pitcher Year
8 Babe Ruth 1917

8 Dave Ferriss 1945
8 Roger Moret 1973
7 George Winter 1901
7 Mickey Harris 1946
6 Ike Delock 1958
6 Roger Clemens 1991
5 Lefty Grove 1936
5 Don Schwall 1961
5 Roger Clemens 1986
5 Pedro Martinez 2000
5 Josh Beckett 2007

North Shore Spirit Host Yawkey All Stars

Fenway Park was the home of the Yawkey League All Star Game from 1992 to 2004. The YBL All Stars will now play their Summer Classic at Frazer Field in Lynn - home of the North Shore Spirit.

www.northshorespirit.com

50 players from the Thomas A. Yawkey League will play in an Intra-League All Star Game on July 15. The game will be played at the home of the Independant League, North Shore Spirit @ Frazer Field. The game will pit the Dan Tarpey Stars v the Bill Stewart Stars in a 2PM 9 inning contest.

The Spirit are also happy to invite fans to a pre-game home run hitting contest one hour before game time.

Tickets for the game will be available soon. More information on ticket costs and how to obtain them will be posted here and on the YBL Web-page: www.yawkeybaseball.com

Take a moment to visit the North Shore Spirit web-page for ticket info and an opportunity to participate in the family fun on the north shore of Boston. Click on the bannerpage above for access.

Boston Baseball Heads on ComCast

Dave McKay visits with Mr. Red Sox, Johnny Pesky at City of Palms Park in Ft. Myers, FLA

Dave McKay - Host of Boston Baseball Heads

The Boston Baseball Heads Show will begin taping at the Cambridge Studios of ComCast on May 17. This new concept in Access TV is hosted by Dave McKay of Boston. McKay has been an amateur baseball coach and league organizer since his high school years in the 1960's. Dave currently serves as President of the Thomas A. Yawkey Baseball League of Greater Boston and is the Manager/Franchise Holder of the McKay Club which is based in Dorchester, MA.

McKay has also been a constant figure on ComCast over the years. He began doing color commentary for Junior Park League All Star Games on Cablevision in 1985.

Cablevision/Comcast expanded its coverage from just the All Star format to a game of the week presentation of Yawkey League games. Dave joins the ComCast - Yawkey League Game of the Week as the Game Color Man. Now, under the production leadership of Arlen Showstack, McKay will develop this unique TV program dedicated to the young people of Greater Boston who participate in some of the finest quality amatuer baseball in the USA!

"The local media has long-time ignored amateur baseball in Boston", McKay stated recently. "I am fortunate to have a good friend in Arlen & Comcast Boston & Brookline. We have been afforded an opportunity to telecast a show about the sport we love on local access stations. It is my hope to focus on the Yawkey League, its players and events. But, I will not ignore the many other top quality leagues who promote positive baseball opportunities for our young people."

The format for Show One has been outlined and it should be an intersting telecast. Here are some highlites:

Segment One: Review the 2006 Yawkey League Season

We will invite the 2006 League MVP - Marc DesRoches of the Somerville Alibrandi Club; '06 Cy Young Award Winner - Sean Gildea of the Medford Maddogs and Managers of the Year - Dave Hanley of Medford & Sea Tynan of the West Roxbury Devils. An interactive discussion of the season past will take place. These fellas will have an opportunity to present some predictions for the '07 season.

Segment Two: A Look at the YBL in 2007

We will have a chance to look into the Yawkey League Season to come. Viewers will have a chance to meet the new managment teams of the Malden Bull Dogs & Chelsea Nationals. A look into the future will take place after- when Dave McKay sticks heads neck out and makes a few predictions of his own on how teams will fare in the YBL in '07.

Segment Three: A Look at Paradise - Spring Training 2006

Dave McKay embarked on a 4 week visit to many Major League Spring Training locations in Central & Gulf Coastal areas of Florida. This blissful vacation included his viewing 22 major league training games. Dave also had an opportunity to visit the Red Sox Development center for two days and meet and greet with some players/coaches and Red Sox Stars. You will have an opportunity to see some pics he took there and hear some stories about that wonderful visit to paradise.

Segment Four - A Tribute to Joe Driscoll

Boston baseball recently lost Joe Driscoll - America's Umpire. Joe passed away of a sudden heart attach at the age of 64. The man was a baseball legend across America. His good friends Peter Williams and Walter Bentson will join the show and present some wonderful stories about this great baseball man.

Program Note

Boston Baseball Heads will tape at the ComCast Cambridge Studios across from Saint Peter Field on May 17 & 31. Your comments and suggestions for future shows are always welcome.

Please send them to Dave McKay at: yblprez@tmail.com