Drive-time link dump, here we go:
Ian Kennedy throws first BP session since April
Working his way back from an aneurysm, Yankee prospect Ian Kennedy threw his first bullpen session today since April. The right-hander threw 30 pitches from the mound and said he felt good. “It was fun to finally get some competitive juices flowing and to see some hitters,” he said to the AP reporter who stakes out the Yanks’ complex in Tampa. “I’m surprised I wasn’t tired at the end.”
Kennedy will throw another BP session on Saturday before getting in some tosses during a simulated game on Tuesday. He will join an instructional league team later this month and pitch in the Arizona Fall League in October. If all goes well, he should factor into the Yanks’ plans for 2010. Lost amidst this injury was the fact that Kennedy had a better start to his AAA season this year than Phil Hughes did.
In other injury news, Brett Gardner is set to join AAA Scranton tomorrow for a rehab assignment. He’ll be back some time next week.
Steinbrenner Yankeeography to debut tonight
At 11 p.m. or following the completion of the Yankees-Orioles game, the YES Network will debut the George Steinbrenner edition of their acclaimed Yankeeography series. Marc Carig offered up his take:
After seeing the clips, I wanted to keep watching, which I suppose is the point. The producers do a good job of capturing Steinbrenner’s many sides and interests. A bit about the Boss and his family life is particularly touching. Looking back, it’s easy to gain an appreciation for what Steinbrenner did to turn the ailing franchise around when he bought the team.
Carig notes that the YES-produced bio is a bit light on the criticism, and The Post echoed those sentiments today. It doesn’t delve much into the history of George’s legal troubles or his run-ins with baseball’s Powers-That-Be.
Yom Kippur game moved to 1 p.m.
Displaying a bit of religious sensitivity, Major League Baseball has agreed to move the Sunday, September 27 game between the Red Sox and the Yankees to 1 p.m. Originally slated as an afternoon game, MLB moved it to 8 p.m. a few weeks ago at the request of ESPN. Sunset on Sunday though marks the start of Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. At the request of Jewish leaders and Congressman Anthony Weiner, baseball has agreed to move the game back to its original 1 p.m. start time, and my parents, ticketholders for the day, are happy to hear it.
Some self-promotion
I stopped by the YES studios last week to film a short web appearance on Pinstriped Weekly. While the video isn’t as timely today as it was last week, check it out right here.