Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Yankees plan to retain Joe Girardi as their manager next year.
"Joe will be back," co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said yesterday at the club's spring training complex in Tampa. "He's done everything he could. That's the bottom line."
Girardi is in his first season managing the Yankees after agreeing to a three-year contract last October. The team likely will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993, but Girardi wasn't expected to be fired.
New York has been hit hard by injuries to ace Chien-Ming Wang, C Jorge Posada, RHP Joba Chamberlain and OF Hideki Matsui. The offense has struggled and the back end of the rotation has been largely ineffective.
Still to be resolved is who the Yankees general manager will be in 2009. Brian Cashman's contract is up this year, and Steinbrenner said discussions on a possible extension will take place after the season.
· SOLD ON PRODUCT: Red Sox owners, players and former IF Johnny Pesky greeted fans and handed out commemorative tickets to mark the team's record-breaking 456th straight regular season sellout before Boston's game against Tampa Bay.
"It's just incredible. It's hard to put into words. We have a deep appreciation with the loyalty of the fans," owner John Henry said.
Tim Wakefield, the longest tenured member of the team after coming to the Red Sox in 1995, also thanked fans for their support before one middle-aged female fan had a surprise for him.
"Thank you," she said as she leaned forward and kissed his left cheek.
The Red Sox began their streak on May 15, 2003, and broke the Indians' mark, set from June 12, 1995, to April 2, 2001, at Jacobs Field.
Three fans threw out ceremonial first pitches to David Ortiz, Wakefield and Mike Timlin.
"We don't have any projections for how long it can go on," team president and CEO Larry Lucchino said. "We've seen other teams with long streaks fall off. As long as we stick to the basics and put a team worthy of the fans' support on the field, it should continue."
Fenway has the smallest seating capacity in the majors, 36,984 for day games when two sections of the center field bleachers are covered with a black material to help the hitters' background. It seats 37,400 for night games.
· POSTPONED: Rain forced the postponement of the Blue Jays-White Sox game in Chicago. It will be made up as part of a split doubleheader today beginning at 1:05 p.m.
The four-game series that was to have started at U.S. Cellular is the Blue Jays' only trip to Chicago to play the White Sox this season.
The Blue Jays entered the series against the Central division-leading White Sox on an eight-game winning streak.
-- From News Services
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