Yankees blow 9th inning lead to Rangers after 3.5 hour rain delay

In a Yankees season full of disappointing defeats, Monday night’s crushing loss to the Rangers might go down as the worst — if not the longest.

With New York leading 6-5 and a Texas runner on first base following a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth inning, the game entered into a three-hour, 35-minute rain delay, beginning at 10:40 p.m. with play resuming at 2:15 a.m. before finally ending Tuesday morning at 2:45 a.m..

After the early morning locker room wake-up call, Kirby Yates entered the game to pitch for the Yankees and couldn't get his second career save, allowing a two-run single to Adrian Beltre and an RBI single to Elvis Andrus as the Rangers went on to stun the home team, 9-6.

At 2:25 am ET, the #Rangers take a 7-6 lead on Adrian Beltre's 2-RBI singe. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/04ysiAiplP

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) June 28, 2016

Joe Girardi — who successfully lobbied for a rain (which never came) delay to suspend the game 20 minutes at the start — got the tarp on the field once again after the leadoff walk (which the Yankees manager later denied) in the ninth.

The choice to delay the game belonged solely to crew chief, first-base umpire Paul Nauert, not Girardi or Rangers manager Jeff Banister. Being that the game had lasted longer than five innings, it was reasonable that Nauert could have called the game then, but he elected not to, leading to the extended delay later in the ninth.

Prior to that, when the rain did come in the 5th inning, umpires decided to let the teams play through the soggy conditions. Rangers fielders had trouble fielding some balls, slipped a couple of times and overall had a tough time with the slick grass, but the game pressed on until the ninth.

Before the stoppage, the Yankees broke out offensively with 15 hits. Mark Teixeira provided the big blast, smacking the Yanks' first non-single of the day, a home run to lead off the seventh inning that extended the Yankees' lead to 6-4. But it was the Yankees bullpen which let them down.

Happily for the Rangers, their 50th win of the season was worth the wait.

As for the Yankees, they might be glad to know the stands were empty and TVs off by the time they blew the game. 

If the Yankees-Rangers game resumes and no one sees it, does it still count? https://t.co/Ampxyn60Zz pic.twitter.com/PN4Qc75tZA

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) June 28, 2016

Maybe if Girardi didn't call for that bogus pre-game suspension things might have ended differently for the Yankees — well, at least a whole lot earlier.

Masahiro Tanaka will pitch Wednesday for Yankees, lining him up for potential Wild Card Game: Report

Joe Girardi had no answers Sunday regarding Masahiro Tanaka and when his ace would make his next start for the Yankees, leaving the manager wondering how his starting rotation would shake out leading into the playoffs and a probable one-game Wild Card playoff next Tuesday.

Now, according to the New York Daily News, Girardi said Tanaka will return to the mound Wednesday against the Red Sox, lining the righthander up to start the do-or-die game — if necessary.

Tanaka sustained a Grade 1 right hamstring strain Sept. 18 running to first base against the Mets and the Yankees were hopeful he'd start either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday against the Red Sox — helping Girardi to figure out his starting rotation heading into the post-season.

Tanaka did fielding drills and threw Monday afternoon, passing the final tests for Girardi to fit him back into the rotation after missing a start with the sore hammy.

Girardi said Tanaka will not have any restrictions Wednesday as far as pitch count.

Joe Girardi wants best-of-three Wild Card Game format

Unless the New York Yankees can overtake the Toronto Blue Jay's 4.5 game lead in the AL East in the next 15 games, the Bronx Bombers are going to have to settle for the first Wild Card spot — meaning a they'll be in a one-game playoff on Oct. 6 with the next-best team to advance to the division series. They currently lead the Wild Card by 3.5 games.

And after Friday's 5-1 loss to the Mets and the regular season end quickly approaching, it is becoming a good bet the Yankees probably aren’t going to pass anyone.

So for the last month or so, as if preparing himself for the inevitable, Yankees manager Joe Girardi has been voicing his displeasure of the do-or-die Wild Card Game and is calling for change of the one-game format.

"It should be the best of three," Girardi said. "You play Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and then your next series starts Thursday. So the penalty for not winning your division is you're going to play five days in a row to start out if you don't win in two games."

That means if you win the first two, you get a day off.

"I mean, if that's the way you make it, of course you're going to welcome it," Girardi said. "But your preference would be to have a five-game series to sort things out."

The Yankees, who pulled Masahiro Tanaka after six innings Friday night (82 pitches) against the Mets, will likely have him starting in next week's crucial series against Toronto. So it doesn't appear that Girardi is publicly planning around having to play a Wild Card game just yet.

Tanaka gave up two runs, five hits, didn’t issue a walk and fanned four. He is 12-7 after entering the game 3-0 with a 2.54 ERA in his previous three outings and is 8-3 with a 3.01 ERA in his last dozen starts.

That's sounds like a one-game pitcher to me.

Benches clear during Astros-Yankees blowout after Carlos Gomez bat flip (VIDEO)

There wasn’t much for Yankees fans to get excited about during the Astros’ 15-1 beatdown of the Bombers Tuesday night, but Carlos Gomez and the Yankees’ bench did their best to provide a little drama in the top of the sixth when the benches cleared.

After Gomez flied out to center for the second out of the inning, he slammed his bat down, seemingly angry with himself.

As he jogged to first, a voice from the Yankees dugout caught Gomez’s attention and the center fielder jawed back “Shut up” three times.

“I threw my bat in frustration,” Gomez said. “If you scream at me, I’m gonna scream at you back.”

Gomez coyly said he wasn’t sure who was yelling at him, but Yankees manager Joe Girardi admitted he gave the center fielder an earful.

“I just told him to play the game the right way,” Girardi said. “They are kicking our rear ends and show a little professionalism. I know you missed a pitch and you are frustrated by it. … He plays hard but there have been a number of clubs who have taken exception to some of the things he has done on the field.’’

Gomez was confronted by Yankees catcher John Ryan Murphy near the plate before he was pulled away toward his own dugout by his teammates.

According to ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand, Gomez mouthed off some more after the game.

"If they feel frustrated, that's not my problem," Gomez reportedly said. "This is part of the game, part of the nature of competition, and those who don't know how to compete, can just go home and cry."

Gomez later hit a three-run homer off Chris Capuano and rounded the base without incident.

CC Sabathia held back after Astros' Brett Oberholtzer throws at A-Rod (VIDEO)

Houston Astros pitcher Brett Oberholtzer got rocked early by the New York Yankees on Saturday, allowing a grand slam to catcher Brian McCann and a two-run dinger to outfielder Chris Young — all before he was out of the second inning. So the frustrated lefty took out his anger out on Alex Rodriguez by intentionally throwing a fastball at A-Rod's midsection.

CC Sabathia took offense at the bush league tactic and the Yankees pitcher had to be held back by manager Joe Girardi after the big guy hopped out of the dugout.

Oberholtzer, who just took a beating from McCann and Young, wanted no part of CC's wrath and meekly retreated to the Astros dugout — without even waiting for the umpire to give him the thumb.

It'll be interesting to see what happens the next time CC and Oberholtzer meet in a big league park.

Or not. Since Obie was almost immediately sent down to Triple-A.

.@Astros option LHP Brett Oberholtzer to Triple-A Fresno.

— MLBRosterMoves (@MLBRosterMoves) June 28, 2015

Andrew Miller headed to 15-day DL with forearm injury: Report

Andrew Miller’s first season as the New York Yankees’ closer is now on hold, as the left-hander is headed to the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his left forearm.

The off-season acquisition has a slight strain in his flexor mass muscle, manager Joe Girardi said.

Miller said he reported the pain after pitching in Tuesday night's win. But, Girardi added, Miller told the team he'd felt it for a little while.

Miller won't throw the ball for 10 days and then the Yankees will decide what to do with their impressive lefty.

Dellin Betances will likely take over as closer, Girardi said.

Miller signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Yankees as a free agent this offseason and quickly took over the closer role. And he has been nothing short of spectacular. So far, he's saved 17 games with a 1.03 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 26 innings while holding opponents to a .090 batting average.

The Yankees haven't decided who will take Miller's 25-man roster spot, said Girardi, who added the team doesn't think Tommy John surgery will be necessary because Miller's ulnar collateral ligament is intact.

Girardi added that the injury will make him wonder whether he overused Miller.

Derek Jeter keeps word, is no show at Yankee Stadium Opening Day

No matter how hard fans wished Derek Jeter was going to show up at Yankee Stadium on Monday, pinstripes and all, was just pure fantasy. But the logical choice to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day as a civilian was no where to be seen at all.

So former manager Joe Torre was given the honor.

The retired shortstop stayed true to his word and, just like he said he would after his retirement,

was taking a break from baseball. 

That, of course, didn't mean a break Jeter hasn't been busy. He was recently in Tokyo with Hideki Matsui and hosted a charity golf tournament in Las Vegas. All the while promoting his new website, The Players' Tribune, and planning his own restaurant. 

Torre, who received one of the day's loudest ovations when he walked to the mound to deliver the first pitch to catcher Brian McCann, also was scheduled to receive the "Pride of the Yankees" award at the team's welcome home dinner Monday night.

So fans were happy.

But when can anyone expect to see the Yankee icon in the Bronx? Who knows?

Jeter hasn't been around the Yankees much at all except as a  favor to his old mentor and the Yankees' new player development head, Gary Denbo, when Jeets visited with prospects in late February in Tampa. 

And none of the current Yankees players expect to see The Captain anytime soon.

"He's a busy guy, man," said Carlos Beltran, who lockered near Jeter in 2014.

Only manager Joe Girardi seemed confident he'd see Jeter at all around the Yankees this season.

"When he said he wouldn't do it, he's not going to do it," said the manager. "Obviously, we want him around, we want him to come back. But we respect that decision and we expect to see him around this season."

Girardi didn't say when he thought Jeter might show up, but there's a good chance he meant when the club retires the numbers of friends and former teammates Bernie Williams on May 24; Jorge Posada on Aug. 22; and Andy Pettite on Aug. 23.

Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, both of whom retired after the 2013 season, caught ceremonial first pitches thrown by Jeter and Posada at the 2014 home opener.

Jeter is busy, but loyal. Buy your tickets now.

World Series or nothing for Yankees, says Joe Girardi

Opening day is only a week away and, even with all of the questions surrounding the New York Yankees, manager Joe Girardi won't call this season a success unless the Yankees win the World Series.

Not such a particullarly bold statement for most MLB managers days before the season's first pitch but, when your hopes hinge on an injury-prone rotation, a bunch of new faces and a pariah for DH, it's a tall order in the Bronx.

And it is the Yankees after all.

"That's why we come to camp, that's why we train, it's why we do everything," Girardi said before Sunday's 7-0 victory over the Astros. "It's the World Series. That's our goal . . . To me, it's all or nothing. That's why you play."

With most experts picking the Yankees to finish with about 81 wins, with a healthy rotation and a couple of new players coming up big, the Bombers could snap its two-year playoff drought.

"I think guys understand the expectations here," Girardi said. "Even the guys who haven't been here understand the expectations and feel we have something to prove."

A-Rod goes hitless against pitching machine: Report

Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees took part in a six-inning intrasquad game Monday afternoon, the first “game” action for manager Joe Girardi’s team this spring.

And if facing a 90 mph pitching machine known as “Iron Mike” is any indication, A-Rod might end up apologizing for more than his past PED use this summer.

Apparently, his shame has flowed over to the batting cage.

Here's our @NYDNSports back page for Tuesday: A-Rod goes hitless vs. Iron Mike, the #Yankees pitching machine. pic.twitter.com/1hhTpUMpTJ
— Tom Biersdorfer (@TomBiersdorfer) March 3, 2015

The Yankees "slugger"went 0-for-2, grounding out to third base on the second pitch he saw, then lofting the first pitch of his next at-bat to right field for a routine fly out.

To be fair, Rodriguez wasn't the only player shut down by the mechanical arm. Mark Teixeira, Didi Gregorius, Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Drew and Garrett Jones combined to go 0-for-10. Chris Young had a single in the scrimmage, though he was also the lone hitter to strike out against the machine, reported the N.Y. Daily News.

“For so many guys it’s difficult, because there’s no timing mechanism,” Girardi said about the practice gizmo. “You don’t have an arm to follow, and that’s the timing part. The guys who have that little bit of a leg kick, it’s even harder for them.”

A-Rod’s official spring debut will take place Wednesday against the Phillies in the Yankees’ home opener at Steinbrenner Field, where he’s expected to get two or three at-bats as the designated hitter.

Yankees players will welcome A-Rod back says ex-teammate: Report

Love him or hate him, Alex Rodriquez will be back with the New York Yankees next season and, if you believe ex-teammate David Phelps, the team will be more than happy to see old A-Rod.

According to Phelps, in a report from the New York Daily News’ Mark Feinsand, the disgraced slugger's transition back into pinstripes may go smoother than first imagined.

At least in the locker room:

“One thing that starts all at the top with (manager Joe Girardi) and goes all the way to the bottom is that the team is a family,” Phelps said. “The issue isn’t going to be player-to-player or coach-to-player. The circus is going to be what’s portrayed in the media, but that’s New York.

“It’s something you have to get used to playing there. I don’t think there’s going to be an issue between the players. He’s going to want to come back and help them win a championship.”

The Yankees dealt Phelps, Martin Prado and cash considerations to the Marlins on Friday, receiving Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Jones and Domingo German from Miami. Phelps, who went 15-14 with a 4.21 ERA during the past three seasons, serving as a swingman between the rotation and bullpen.

Phelps credited A-Rod with helping him make the transition to the big leagues back in 2012, going so far as to say:

“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today," he said. "He’s an incredible teammate who went out of his way early in my career to help me out. My first couple outings, I’d be in the dugout or in the clubhouse and he would come over and pick my brain; things like, ‘Why did you throw this pitch in this situation?’” he said.  “Even when we were rehabbing in Trenton a couple years ago, he pulled me over and we talked about the business side of the game, protecting players’ rights, that kind of stuff. He’s incredibly intelligent on the field and with the business side of baseball. He has a lot to offer younger players.”

All good and well for Phelps but it remains to be seen where the soon to be 40-year-old A-Rod will fit in with the Yankees on next season's roster. Mixed signals sent from manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman — combined with some off-season moves — have Rodriguez anywhere from platooning at first and third all the way to warming the bench as a DH.

Spring training starts in a couple of months. It'll be fun to see where the $61 million pariah ends up.

A-Rod's weight might be an issue for Yankees: Report

When it comes to where Alex Rodriguez will fit in after returning to the Yankees, the organization's wait-and-see attitude might now become more weight-and-see.

Reports are circulating that the disgraced slugger has packed on a few pounds during his suspension.

Brian Cashman, who has been busy trimming the fat from the Yankees' payroll and hasn't seen A-Rod in a while, said the 39-year-old third baseman is working to get to his goal weight.

Yankees strength and fitness trainer, Matt Krause, did visit Rodriguez in Miami Wednesday, said Cashman. And the verdict?

“Alex is working hard and continuing to get ready for spring training and moving in the right direction,” the Yankees general manager said.

Cashman wouldn’t say what Rodriguez’s goal weight was. He also wouldn’t say whether A-Rod was heavier or lighter than he should be or how close he was to the weight.

"Alex texted me yesterday," Cashman said. "I said, 'All things good with you,' and he said, 'Yup.'"

But Krause did visit Rodriguez last month to set up a program.

“Matt is doing all the physical assessments, weight and all that stuff, and [Alex], like all our players, has a report weight that we are hopeful that they hit. He’s approaching that, he’s not at the spring training weight that we desire just yet, there is progress,” Cashman said. “He continues to tweak, and Matt continues to tweak his conditioning program. They are building a relationship, they don’t know each other. Matt is not only checking on Alex, he’s seen (catcher Brian) McCann, (left fielder Brett) Gardner, (center fielder Jacoby) Ellsbury, he’s seen all our guys.”

On Tuesday, manager Joe Girardi said he’s seen video tapes of Rodriguez hitting, running and lifting weights and added that A-Rod looked healthy.

Cashman said he hasn’t seen those videos.

Cashman and Girardi divided on A-Rod's role with Yankees: Report

Publicly, the New York Yankees have been putting on a unified face in accepting the return of Alex Rodriguez and the remaining three-year, $61 million contract he hauls into spring training — namely, a blank stare.

Probably because there is little they can do about A-Rod putting on pinstripes in 2015 and the less talk of the admitted steroid cheat, the better.

But behind the scenes, manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman are reportedly at clear odds about what Rodriguez's role with the team will be when he is back, according to the N.Y. Post.

Girardi sounds excited to see what Rodriguez can offer the Yankees at third base and even spoke with him last month about taking some reps at first base during spring training.

“We’re preparing him to play third base, but I think you have to see,” said Girardi. “Obviously, we believe there’s going to be some DH days in there. You’ve got to see where he’s at. I mean, he is going to be 40. He hasn’t played a whole lot in the last couple of years. But our hope is that he comes back and is a very productive player for us.”

Cashman, on the other hand, seems bent on getting a third baseman, meaning A-Rod is likely ticketed for a full-time designated hitter role and made it clear at this week's general managers meeting in Arizona that third base is prime for the taking.

“If I signed a Chase Headley, he would be the starting third baseman,” Cashman said on Day 2 of the meetings. “If I traded for a third baseman that was an everyday guy, that would be the move I would be making.”

Meanwhile, Girardi said he has kept in touch with Rodriguez via phone, text and email this offseason. The manager claimed he may even go visit A-Rod this offseason to gauge how he’s doing physically, although like everybody else, he has no idea what to expect from the aging, embattled slugger.

And Cashman?

“Alex obviously is going to come in and compete,” Cashman said. “Compete for at-bats, compete for a position; simple as that. When we last saw Alex he was playing third base, that was a little over a year ago. Obviously he’s looking to compete for an everyday position at third, maybe fight for at-bats at the DH spot.”

The Yankees seemed impressed by what they saw from Headley during his two months as a Yankee last season, making him an ideal candidate to return at third. And since they reportedly have no intention of pursuing Pablo Sandoval, Headley looks like Cashman's top choice.

And considering how much time Mark Teixeira has missed due to injury over the past few seasons, it sounds like the Yankees will need a spare first baseman/DH to fill in.

So when push actually comes to shove between Cashman and Girardi, the soon-to-be 40-year-old A-Rod might fit the bill in that capacity.

Well ... A-Rod is officially a Yankee again: Report

Yankees fans don't have a lot of reasons to be happy about the World Series officially putting a bow on the 2014 MLB season. Besides the realization that Derek Jeter will never play in pinstripes again, there's also that uneasy feeling of knowing Alex Rodriguez is officially back on the team once again.

Well ... at least A-Rod is celebrating.

When Pablo Sandoval caught the final out of Game 7 Wednesday night, he effectively activated Alex Rodriguez from his season-long suspension. More ironic now when you think that there is a distinct possibility that the soon-to-be free agent Sandoval could have the 39-year-old Rodriguez as his occasional backup at third base on the Yankees next year.

With end of playoffs, A-Rod becomes a reinstated player and is now back on #Yankees roster
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 30, 2014

The second Panda caught the final out, Rodriguez completed his season-long doping ban — a punishment that outgoing Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig handed down on Aug. 5, 2013, nearly 15 months ago.

Although he served his ban for violating MLB’s collective bargaining agreement and joint drug agreement, A-Rod appealed the original 211-game ban which was reduced to 162 games by an independent arbitrator. So the embattled player may not be out of the woods concerning possible future legal woes.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi has said that the reinstated Rodriguez will be the starting third baseman if he proves healthy in spring training and demonstrates that he still has the skills to play. 

There has also been discussion speculating Rodriguez could possibly play first base.

A-Rod has two surgically repaired hips, turns 40 in July and hasn’t played organized baseball in a year. He’s owed $61 million by the Yankees for the three years left on his deal.

I don't hear any cheers in the Bronx.

Derek Jeter love-fest almost turns into all-out brawl (VIDEO)

The night started out nice enough with Derek Jeter adding a few more gifts from the Tampa Bay Rays to his Farewell Tour collection. Before the game, the organization gave him a $16,000 donation to his Turn2 foundation, a Don Zimmer jersey, and a pinstriped kayak.

Then in the eighth inning, Rays pitcher Steven Geltz chipped in with a fastball to Jeter's elbow.

Jeter took it in stride, but umpire Rob Drake decided to warn both sides — bringing both managers out to argue. That's when frustrated Joe Girardi went a little overboard and got tossed. 

Then, in the bottom half of the same inning, Yankees reliever David Phelps decided to give Jeter a little present of his own by throwing a brushback pitch at Kevin Kiermaier. That obligatory gift caused both benches to clear.

No punches were thrown, but words were exchanged before Phelps and Yankees bench coach Tony Peña Sr. were ejected.

After the game, Rays manager Joe Maddon didn't fault Girardi.

"Understand the Yankees frustration, but there was no intent. It's baseball," he tweeted.

Understand the Yankees frustration, but there was no intent. It’s baseball.
— Joe Maddon (@RaysJoeMaddon) September 17, 2014

No. It's Derek Jeter's last few weeks of playing baseball.

Jeter, Gardner thrown out during embarassing 2-6-3-4-5-3 double play (VIDEO)

The Little League World Series ended last week but, after this play at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night, Derek Jeter and Brett Gardner might want to get a few base-running pointers from the 12 and 13 year-olds.

The two veteran players fell victim to an unbelievable base-running gaffe which ended up being scored an unlikely 2-6-3-4-5-3 double play against the Red Sox — even without the ball making contact.

The embarassing brain freezes began while Gardner was on first and breaks for second. On the throw down, Jeter begins to stray from third base. The Captain loiters too long and too far and is thrown out by Jemile Weeks. 

Then Gardner, usually a speedy and opportunistic base stealer, gets caught in a rundown before getting tagged at second by Allen Craig during a headfirst slide.

Both players walked back to the dugout with their heads hung low after the bizarre sequence of events.

It was almost a disastrous play for the slumping Yankees although the mistake didn't cost them the game.

"Gardy did not get a good jump and he has to stop. Jeet had third base easy," an angry but relieved Joe Girardi said after the 5-1 victory. "Running into two outs, I wasn't real happy about it."

It's going to be hard to make the playoffs — and rightfully so — with sloppy plays like that.

Carlos Beltran's walk-off home run lifts Yankees over Orioles (VIDEO)

A Yankees season that already had way more injuries than exciting finishes finally added the one thing its been missing on Friday night: a walk-off victory.

Carlos Beltran's three-run walk-off home run off Zach Britton capped the Yankees' comeback in a 5-3 victory over the Orioles in the Bronx. 

The Yankees low energy offense — which left runners in scoring position all night —  scored four times in the ninth for their fourth straight victory and eighth in their last 10.

"We couldn't seem to get the big hit when we needed it but we found a way to get it done," manager Joe Girardi said. "That's what you need to do if you want to play in October.

"It's been somewhat of a struggle then he got hurt. But you can just see him starting to square the balls up," Girardi said of his DH. "That was a tremendous at-bat."

Here's the first Gatorade shower at Yankee Stadium this year.

Lights out at O.co Coliseum delays Yankees-A's game (VIDEO)

The decades-old cement block known as O.co Coliseum has a long history of malfunctions and the cracks are beginning to show in more ways than one. An overflowing sewage system last year and early this year have been just some of the more serious issues.

On Saturday night, a bank of lights in left field went out at the temperamental ballpark, delaying the A's game against the Yankees as the teams were about to start the fourth inning.

The delay began at 8:19 p.m. with the A's leading 2-1. The lights came back on after 38 minutes to the cheers from the sellout crowd of 36,067.

Turns out there was a circuit-breaker outage. The breaker had to be manually reset while starters Scott Kazmir and Hiroki Kuroda tried to stay loose.

Kazmir and Kuroda both stayed in the game. Kazmir was seemingly unaffected, going on to complete six innings with just one unearned run allowed. Kuroda lasted only 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs — including two after the delay.

"It's one of the older ballparks,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after the 5-1 Yankees loss. "And sometimes with older ballparks, you're going to have some challenges."

The same might be said of his creaky Yankees and their own power problems this season.

Don Zimmer remembered fondly by Yankees after game (VIDEO)

The Yankees not only lost a game Wednesday night to the Oakland A's at Yankee Stadium, more importantly, they lost a valued member of the team's family.

During the game, the players and manager Joe Girardi learned of the death of former Yankees bench coach and mentor to many — Don Zimmer.

After the game, an emotional Girardi and Derek Jeter talked about the man who meant so much to both of them.

Zimmer was Girardi's first manager in the big leagues with the Cubs, was a coach when Girardi was with the Rockies and recommended that the Yankees acquire Girardi before the 1996 season.

"Great baseball man," a teary-eyed Girardi said of Zimmmer, who was 83 when he passed away at a Florida rehab center. "Baseball lifer. He was a mentor to me and I had him 10 out of my first 11 years in the big leagues. So wherever he went I went. I always thought he looked like my grandfather -- build a lot alike, same height, same forearms. My grandfather had a full head of white hair, though. That was probably the biggest difference.

"He taught me a lot about this game. Close friend, and I'm gonna miss him."

Jeter also had a special relationship with Zimmer. The Yankees captain used to rub Zimmer's bald head for luck before games.

"It's a tough one to swallow," Jeter said. "Everyone knows how much Zim's meant to our organization, but [also] to baseball as a whole and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. It's tough news and I'll miss him."

Zimmer, who still worked as a senior adviser for the Rays, would visit with the Yankees when they played at Tampa Bay.

The news came in the middle innings, Jeter said. The Yankees still had a game to play, but they were not able to overcome another poor performance by the bullpen after taking a 4-0 lead in the third inning.

For a lot of reasons now, that doesn't seem so important.

Rest in peace, Don Zimmer. Forever a Yankee: http://t.co/tnAVqX9ei1
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 5, 2014

Girardi would be 'shocked' if CC returns to mound by May 26: Report

CC Sabathia will probably hanging around the Yankee Stadium training room when the Yankees take on the Pirates during Sunday's doubleheader, but that might be as close as he gets to the mound for a while.

Manager Joe Girardi said his injured starter, who was diagnosed with “degenerative changes” in his right knee, was flying back to New York Saturday after receiving cortisone and stem cell injections into the knee, but it’s becoming more apparent that the lefthander will spend more than the minimum 15 days on the disabled list.

“I would be kind of shocked,” Girardi said when asked if Sabathia could return when eligible on May 26. “There hasn’t been a lot of history on this, but because they want the procedure to obviously be as successful as possible, he is on crutches. And it’s not because the knee is sore, they just don’t want him to put any weight on it. My guess is we’ll evaluate him Monday or Tuesday and see where he’s at and go from there.”

There’s no time frame for Sabathia’s return and the 33-year-old hurler probably won’t be rushing back into action when he dumps the crutches.

"They don't want any weight on it," said Girardi. "My guess is we'll evaluate him Monday or Tuesday and see where we're at."

 Until he gets a better idea from the doctors and the training staff, Girardi isn’t going to worry about when Sabathia will return.

“To me, you focus on the guys that are in the room, and that’s what I try to do all the time,” he said. "You’ve got to win with the guys in the room."

"For now," that means keeping Chase Whitley in the rotation.

Mets celebrate win over Yankees before game is officially over (VIDEO)

Lucas Duda made an outstanding diving catch to start a game-ending double play against the Yankees Monday night. As soon as Brian McCann was called out at first, the jack-upped  Mets players started celebrating a thrilling 9-7 victory over their crosstown rivals.

Only one problem — the game wasn't officially over yet.



The bizarre situation transpired while the Mets were high-fiving each other on the field and Yankees manager Joe Girardi ran out of the dugout to challenge the call at first base. After a few awkward moments, the umpires walked off the field and Girardi withdrew his request.

And Duda's defensive gem was one for the books.