Though Cano has hopefully been well-known to Yankee fans over the past few seasons, his name is certainly not one that gets a lot of fanfare around the league.  This doesn’t mean that pitchers aren’t aware of his big bat, however, as Cano has quietly put together an astounding early career in the bright lights of New York.  After belting two home runs on April 29th and continuing to keep his average over .400, the rest of the league will have to take notice moving forward.

In Cano’s five previous seasons with the Yanks, he has hit .300 or greater in three of those years, making him a versatile hitter who can bat anywhere in the lineup.  His power has also come along nicely and he put up 25 bombs a year ago.  With eight home runs already, 35 round-trippers this year is certainly not out of the question.  But for Cano, power is just a bonus as he can spray the ball to any portion of the field, making him an unbelievably difficult batter to consistently get out.  If Cano can stay healthy, he’s the type of all-around hitter who could win a battle title, or maybe even several.

His hot start this season has also been crucial for the Yankees, who head into the second month of the season a few games behind the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays.  Jeter has hit for a high average but his on-base percentage is way down from recent years.  The Yanks have gotten very little out of the two-hole this season from Nick Johnson and others, and Teixeira is off to his usual horrible start.  Even A-Rod has struggled coming out of the gates.  As of April 30th, he had just two home runs and a .250 batting average.

Yet with some solid pitching and Cano in the fifth spot in the lineup, the Yankees still have one of the best records in the entire league, which is a scary thought if A-Rod and Teixeira can emerge from their early season slumber.  Cano has also been a defensive spark and has the type of talent to one day win a Gold Glove, yet he’s only the 10th highest paid player on the Yankees’ payroll.

With Cano’s development, the Yankees also can squash any murmurs that they only buy talent and never develop any of their own.  Cano came up through the Yankees’ farm system and has done nothing but produce from his rookie season on, with his game growing from year to year until it has exploded in the early portion of the 2010 season.  As the rest of the highly-paid Yankees get going, Cano should continue to be a prime piece of the puzzle that has fans buying <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.stubhub.com/new-york-yankees-tickets/”>New York Yankees tickets</a> and clamoring about another potential World Series title.  It’s also time for the rest of the league to take notice of another potential superstar emerging in pinstripes.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi wants to throw as many lefties as he can against a Minnesota lineup that is loaded with dangerous lefties, so he will bring Sabathia back for Game 4 on short rest if needed, while Pettitte, who would pitch on regular rest because of the off days in the schedule, would start Game 5 if necessary.

That Losing Feeling

The Twins’ eleven-game postseason skid is tied with the Cubs for the longest active streak.

“We felt with all the left-handed hitters we would try to throw four lefties at them in five games,” Girardi said.

Burnett’s place in the playoff rotation has been speculated about in the local and national media for several mlb jerseys weeks. He is on the postseason roster, however.

Girardi is expected to hold a news conference on Tuesday afternoon in Minnesota.

The move to leave out Burnett for the ALDS is not shocking, because Girardi mulled removing Burnett from the rotation during the second half of the season. General manager Brian Cashman has said the Yankees’ postseason rotation would be based on merit, not money.

Burnett is completing the second season of an $82.5 million, five-year contract, but has not come close to living up to his salary this nfl jersey season, in which he was 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA. He took the news in stride.

“It’d be different if I had a great second half,” Burnett said. “But I took baby steps, not a huge leap. Those three guys [Sabathia, Pettitte and Hughes] have been our main starters.”

In October 2009, with the Yankees down a game in the World Series, Burnett won Game 2. Overall, he was inconsistent in the 2009 playoffs.

Girardi also decided to go with Sergio Mitre and Dustin Moseley in the bullpen over Javier Vazquez and Chad Gaudin. The mlb jerseys manager kept outfielder Greg Golson as the final position player.

“We really like the way [Mitre's] sinker has been working lately and the way he has been throwing the ball,” Girardi said.

Girardi left open the possibility that Burnett could start in the series if Sabathia told the Yankees that he didn’t feel good enough physically to pitch on three days’ rest. But if all goes according to plan, Burnett will remain in the bullpen.

“I’m not going to cause drama or be the bad apple,” Burnett said.

Girardi said all his roster decisions were difficult and he appreciated how Burnett handled the news.

“I didn’t know how he would take it,” Girardi said. “But we talked about it and he seemed like he’s on board. He’s going to do whatever he can to help us.”

Meanwhile, the Twins plan on starting Brian Duensing in Game 3; and Nick Blackburn in Game 4.

In addition, the New York Yankees have a long team history, consisting of a host of high points, milestones and championships. With 26 world championships under their belt, they are a prosperous baseball team and a global franchise.

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Currently sitting at mid table, the NY Yankees have long been associated with top flight, and are the very sporting embodiment of all that is New York!

One of the American League’s eight charter franchises, founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1901 as the Baltimore Orioles, moving to New York in 1903 to become the New York Highlanders. From 1923 the Yankees have played at Yankee Stadium. They have been Major League Baseball’s most storied franchise, winning 26 World Series titles and 39 American League Pennants.

Their 26 titles make them the most successful franchise in North American professional sports history, passing the Montreal Canadians’ 24 titles in 1999. They are also the only team represented in the National Baseball Hall of Fame at every position. They have even faced every winner of the National League pennant in the World Series except for the Houston Astros, who won their first pennant in 2005.

The Yankees also have one of the longest standing and most storied rivalries in North American sports with the nearby Boston Red Sox. The Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry has centered on the supposed Curse of the Bambino, and has gained even more significance with the creation of the Wild Card in 1995, which allowed the two teams to meet in the playoffs.

Franchise history
At the end of the 1900 season, the American League reorganized, and, with AL president Ban Johnson as the driving force, decided to assert itself as a new major league. Known as the Western League until 1899, the AL carried over five of its previous locations and added teams in three East Coast cities, including Baltimore, Maryland.

The team was known as the Baltimore Orioles and began playing in 1901 with John McGraw as manager. McGraw had an argument with Johnson, who enforced the rules about loudness on the field of play, and jumped leagues to manage the Giants in the middle of the 1902 season. A week later, the owner of the Giants raided the teams for players. The AL stepped in and took control of the team, eager to move the team to New York.

The Highlanders (1903-1912)
Hilltop Park was located at 165th Street and Broadway in Manhattan, near the highest point on the island. In the spring of 1904, the name that eventually sticks was the New York Highlanders, reference to the team’s location and also to the noted British military unit The Gordon Highlanders. It fit, as the team’s president from 1903 to 1906 was Joseph Gordon.

The team enjoyed success only twice, finishing second place in 1904 and 1910 as the Highlanders. Much of the team’s Hilltop Park days were spent in the basement.

The high point of the Highlander’s existence came on the last day of the 1904 season at Hilltop Park. New York pitcher Jack Chesbro threw a wild pitch in the ninth inning, allowing the eventual pennant-winning run to score for the Boston Americans.

New Owners, A New Home, and a New Name (1913-1922)
In 1911 the Polo Grounds, home of the Giants, destroyed in a fire, the Highlanders let the Giants play in Hilltop Park while the Polo Grounds was being rebuilt. In 1913, they moved into Polo Grounds after their agreement to play at Hilltop Park ended. Now playing on the Harlem River, the “Highlanders” name had no meaning. The name “Yankees” was occasionally applied to the club as a variation on “Americans”. On April 7, 1904, a spring training story from Richmond, Virginia carried the headline “Yankees Will Start Home From South To-Day.” The New York Evening Journal screamed: “YANKEES BEAT BOSTON”. Now, in 1913, the New York Highlanders officially changed their name to the New York Yankees.

By the mid 1910′s, owners Farrell and Devery had separated, both in dire need of money. At the start of 1915, the duo sold the team to Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Captain Tillinghast L’Hommedieu Huston. Ruppert inherited fortune and had also been tied to the Tammany Hall machine, serving as a Congressman for eight years. However, now had an owner possessing willingness to dig into them to produce a winning team.

Joe Torre and a new dynasty (1996-2000)
The poor showing in the ’80s and early ’90s would start to change when management was able to implement a logical development program without interfering from Steinbrenner, suspended from day-to-day team operations by then-Commissioner Fay Vincent for hiring Howard Spira to reveal damaging information on former Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield. Under general managers Gene Michael and Bob Watson and manager Buck Showalter, the club turned its attention from buying talent to developing talent through its farm system. In 1994 the Yankees had the best record in the AL before the season was cut short by the players’ strike. A year later, the team reached the playoffs as the wild card and were abolished only after a memorable 1995 American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners where the Yankees won the first two games at home and dropped the next three in Seattle.

The 21st century (2001-Present)
In October 2001, following the September 11 attack on New York’s World Trade Center, the Yankees defeated the Oakland A’s three games to two in the ALDS, and then the Seattle Mariners. By winning the banner for a fourth straight year, the 1998-2001 Yankees joined the 1921-1924 New York Giants, and the Yankee teams of ’36-’39, ’49-’53, ’55-’58 and ’60-’64 as the only dynasties to reach at least four straight pennants. The Yankees had now won eleven uninterrupted postseason series in successive years.

After the 2001 season, Paul O’Neill and Scott Brosius retired. Tino Martinez and Chuck Knoblauch left for free agency. The Yankees needed to rebuild the offense that was shut down by the Johnson-Schilling duo in the 2001 World Series. They signed slugger Jason Giambi and outfielder Rondell White, as well as trading David Justice to the Mets for third baseman Robin Ventura. The team also brought back David Wells to bolster the pitching staff. The Yankees finished the 2002 season with an AL best record of 103-58, winning the division by 10.5 games over the Red Sox. Alfonso Soriano becoming the first second baseman ever to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season, as well as Giambi’s 41 home runs highlighted the season. Roger Clemens also made history in the 2002 season by obtaining his 300 win as a pitcher and striking out 4000 batters over the course of his career. Only two other pitchers in major league history have more then 4000 strikeouts that are Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton.
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Yankees, Yesterday And Today

Nicknamed as “the Bronx Bombers” and “the Bombers”, the team began playing as Baltimore Orioles in 1901. When Frank J. Farrell and William S. Devery moved the team to New York, the team came to be known as the New York Highlanders. Years 1904, 1906 and 1910 were successful for the Highlanders.

In 1913, the team came to be called exclusively as the New York Yankees.

Another 2 years later in 1915, the club was sold once more. The highlighting event of 1920s was the addition of Babe Ruth to the team, as a result of a trade off by the Red Sox. This phenomenon came to known as the ‘Curse of the Bambino’ as after Baby Ruth left, success eluded Red Sox for the next 86 years.

Ruth’s home runs proved so popular that the people bought more and more New York Yankees tickets to watch him play.

In 1921, the Yankees made their first World Series appearance and in 1923, they moved to their new home, Yankee Stadium where many fans enjoyed the baseball games with their New York Yankee tickets. The stadium was nicknamed “The House That Ruth Built”. From 1923 onward, the Yankees were the reigning baseball champions.

In 1930s, the Yankees rose to the top of the AL and even after Ruth retired, the Yankees did not lose their sheen. The team won an unprecedented four World Series wins from 1936 to 1939. Year 1951 marked the arrival of the “Oklahoma Kid” Mickey Mantle, a rising star who helped the team win the World Series five consecutive times from 1949-1953. In the 1950s, the Yankees won six World Series championships and eight American League pennants. Mantle, Ford, Berra, Elston Howard and Roger Maris were the star players of this period.

The year 1961 is also famous for the home runs of the “M&M Boys”. After 1964, CBS purchased 80% of the Yankees. Thereafter, the Yankees went on a downslide till 1974. Finally, shipbuilder George Steinbrenner bought the club from CBS in 1973 and renovated the Yankee Stadium to give a facelift to the team. Fans bought many New York Yankees tickets appreciating the change.

Throughout the late 1970s, there was close competition between the Yankees and the Red Sox. The Yankees had poor showing in the 1980s and 1990s. But shortly the farm system was adopted to buy talent and through it key players such as Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, and Mariano Rivera were signed in.

By late 1990s, the Yankees had the best record in the AL ending the team’s 18-year championship drought to win the world championship. Through the early 2000s, the Yankees had a great league record in spite of losing key members such as Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, Scott Brosius, and Chuck Knoblauch.

Pitching problems plagued the team through 2006-07. However in 2008, the Yankees created history by bringing the first two professional baseball players from the People’s Republic of China to the MLB. In fact the 2008 season will be the last season played at historic Yankee Stadium, after which the team will move to the new Yankee Stadium. If you want to catch the Yankee magic live, go get your New York Yankee tickets. Just go online and grab some fabulous deals from an online broker.

The History Of The Yankees

The Yankees are oft nicknamed as “the Bronx Bombers” and “the Bombers” by their fans. Their first matches began in the early 1900s. Till 1913, the Yankees were called the Baltimore Orioles and later as the New York Highlanders. However, after 1913, the team came to be called as the New York Yankees.

A major event that started the good fortune of the Yankees was the induction of Baby Ruth in the team. Often referred to as the ‘Curse of the Bambino’, the Red Sox made a ‘faux-pas’ by trading off Baby Ruth in 1920. Fans believe that it was this foolish decision because of which the championship of the World Series eluded the Red Sox for the next 86 years. Ruth’s home runs were like nectar to the hungry bees [read ‘fans’]. They bought NY Yankees tickets to watch their favorite baseball hero hit many home runs.
In the year 1921, the Yankees made their first appearance in the World Series and by 1923; they shifted to their ballpark, the Yankee Stadium, where the team has been playing till date. The stadium was nicknamed “The House That Ruth Built”. If you want to know why, get your NY Yankees tickets and join the other fans to cheer the team. Watch them play; you will know why the Yankees are the reigning baseball champion team.

In the 1930s, the Yankees rose to the very top of the AL. In fact, even the retiring of Baby Ruth did not dampen their spirits. They won four World cups in that decade. “Oklahoma Kid” Mickey Mantle joined the team in late 1940s-early 1950 and was a major contributor to the team winning the World Series five times from 1949-1953. Mantle, Ford, Berra, Elston Howard and Roger Maris were the star players of the 1960s when the Yankees won more World Series championships and American League pennants.

Downslide And Up One More

Unfortunately in the early 1960s, the Yankees started to downslide right till 1970s. It was not till the time when shipbuilder George Steinbrenner bought the club from CBS and renovated the Yankee Stadium that the team got an impetus to rise above their low times. Fans bought many New York Yankees tickets to applaud their efforts.

Through the 1970s, the Red Sox were the biggest opponents of the NY Yankees.

The 1980s and 1990s were also whiled away without any winning of big baseball matches. Then the farm system through which talent was bought and traded was adopted and through it many fresh players joined the New York Yankees. Some of these players were Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, and Mariano Rivera.

The Yankees started on an up-swing. By late 1990s, the Yankees had the best AL record. Their 18 year ‘no-show’ period ended and they stormed back into the baseball field at the start of the 21st century. Lately however pitching problems have been marring the team’s performance. But fans have great hopes both from the team and their first two professional baseball players from the People’s Republic of China. Little wonder they are all buying NY Yankees tickets. If you haven’t still got yours, get them from an online broker. Your NY Yankees tickets will be delivered right at your doorstep without any extra charges.

They acquired Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns and Kerry Wood, but nothing has improved. Berkman just is not hitting and Kearns is a part timer. Wood has showed some progress and it could help the Yankees down the stretch.

The Yankees are waiting on a healthy Andy Pettitte, and reliability from A.J. Burnett. Alex Rodriguez has been quiet, but hopefully he can get hot soon. Derek Jeter at 36 is not having a Jeter type year. His offensive numbers are the lowest in his career. From Sept. 13 on, the Yankees play the Rays seven times and the Red Sox six times. Curtis Granderson has been a disappointment, but there’s still time for him to salvage his sub-par season.

The Yankees have a few things going for them. Mark Teixeira is getting hot, but he needs to have more multiple hit games to raise his .258 batting average. Nick Swisher is the Yankees Co-MVP so far and has carried the bombers up to this point. Swisher is batting .297 with 22 home runs and 66 RBI. Robertson Cano is the other Co-MVP who leads the Yankees in batting (.328) and has 21 home runs and 71 RBIs.

The Yankees will need the Rays to trip in order to stay on top of the AL East, but that’s a tall order considering how well the Rays have been playing. They were 4 games back of the Yankees at one point, but the Rays erased that quickly.

If the Yankees could have signed Cliff Lee, things would be much better in the Bronx.

Congrats Alex Rodriguez on your 600th Home Run!

Alex Rodriguez hit 599 last night and says of the milestone chase that he’s “having fun. I’m going to hit it and, hopefully, when I (do), like (Thursday) it’s going to count for a win.”

There are only six other men in Major League history who have accomplished — hitting 600 home runs.

The list includes Barry Bonds, Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa.

Of this list, two players (Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa) are suspect of using HGH or other performance enhancing drugs.

When will A-Rod hit his 600^th? I am guessing he will do it against Kansas City at home in front of all the New York Yankees fans. A-Rod faces Brian Bannister tonight at the stadium. Bannister is a right handed pitcher with a high ERA (5.65) and has served up 20 home runs this year. I like Alex’s chances tonight against this righty. In 14.1 innings pitched in his career against the Yankees, Bannister has given up six home runs.

Good luck A-Rod!

2. Tampa Bay Rays (54-34) – Rays still keeping pace with the first place Yankees, but pace can run out if the Yankees Teixeira and A-Rod get hot in the second half.

3. Texas Rangers (50-38) – They beat Tampa Bay 2 out of 3 in June, so they do belong here.

4. Boston Red Sox (51-37; Previous: 2) – Injuries to Dustin Pedroia, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett, Victor Martinez  and Jacoby Ellsbury will hurt the Red Sox chances in the second half. The big question mark is when will Dice K will show consistency.

5. Detroit Tigers (48-38) – They have a possible Triple Crown player in Cabrera and are only one back in the central. The White Sox winning streak will reverse itself in a matter of days.

6. Chicago White Sox (49-38; Previous: 16) – A nine game winning streak seems odd for this team and their knucklehead manager, Ozzie. It’s just a matter of time before the Tigers are back in first. Sorry southsiders, have fun while it lasts.

7. Los Angeles Dodgers (49-39) – Once the dominate team in the west is now playing second fiddle. The Angels, who had just two All-Stars (Torii Hunter and Jered Weaver), trail the Rangers by 4 1/2 games.

8. Minnesota Twins (46-42) – Mauer power outage continues and with Morneau on the DL, this team needs someone to step up in a big way. They may fall short this year. At least they have a new stadium.

9. Toronto Blue Jays (44-45) – Our friends in the north were playing well in April and part of May, but reality stepped in and they are heading southward in the standings and for good reason. There leading batter Fred Lewis is batting .276. This is why their ranked 27^th in team batting average.

10. Oakland Athletics (43-46) – No power out west. Kurt Suzuki is the only A’s player in double digits, with 10 homers. They don’t have one player batting over .300.

11. Kansas City Royals (39-49) – Still not a bad record for a team with no names and a low budget. At least they’re better than three other teams in the AL. You can’t blame Zack Greinke who still has a decent ERA at 3.71.

12. Seattle Mariners (35-53) – They were supposed to contend having the best one-two punch in their rotation, but that changed and now they’re a one arm bandit after trading Cliff Lee.

13. Cleveland Indians (34-54) – Same old Indians. You have to feel bad for Cleveland fans this year after Lebron left to sign with the Heat.

14. Baltimore Orioles (29-59) – They suck, point blank. This team needs some major changes top to bottom. It’s the same old story for the cellar dwellers

How do you rank the American League?