Shorter walls to blame for Yankee Stadium home run derby: Report

Tuesday June 9, 2009 8:23 PM By Pete Catapano

Johnny Damon homers Monday against Tampa Bay (Getty)

By Pete Catapano

Blame the home run derby at the new Yankee Stadium on the walls not the wind, a report released yesterday by Accuweather.com says.

Open now for two months, the Bombers’ new home in the Bronx is poised to set a record for long balls with already 105 hit this season, puzzling fans and experts alike.

While some of speculated wind patterns are to blame, the report says it’s the height of the outfield walls that’s a leading cause.

“Not only is the famed short porch even shorter in the new stadium, but the walls themselves are not as tall,” the report says.It notes that while the dimensions of the stadiums are identical, the new park is lacking the wall curvature of the old one, resulting in a “right field that is shorter by 4-5 feet on average, but to 9 feet in spots.”

Taking into account the dimensions of the field and wall height, AccuWeather.com has calculated that 19 percent (20 out of 105) home runs would not have flown out of the old stadium.

Furthermore, the report says that there’s been no change in the wind speed that has caused the homer onslaught.

The Yankees were unavailable to comment on the report by press time.

Roger Federer earns his career Grand Slam at the French Open

Monday June 8, 2009 2:10 PM By Max J. Dickstein

PARIS - JUNE 08: Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with his French Open winner's trophy at the Arc de Triomphe on June 8, 2009 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

The tension was gone and Roger Federer was serene.

The coveted trophy that had eluded him longest — and might have forever, it often seemed — was finally his, ready to join the Swiss star’s crowded trophy case.

“It’s maybe my greatest victory, or certainly the one that removes the most pressure off my shoulders,” the 27-year-old Federer said yesterday after winning his first French Open title. “I think that now and until the end of my career, I can really play with my mind at peace, and no longer hear that I’ve never won Roland Garros.”

Federer’s 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 triumph over 25th-ranked Robin Soderling, under a consistent drizzle, was heavy with the weight of history. After three years of losses in French Open finals against Rafael Nadal, Federer secured his place as perhaps the greatest player ever to compete in men’s tennis.

This major men’s singles title, Federer’s 14th, tied him with Pete Sampras for most all-time, and his victory on red clay made him the sixth man to win each of the four majors. His predecessor on that list, the 1999 French Open winner, Andre Agassi, handed Federer the Coupe des Mousquetaires.

“I’m so happy for you, man,” Agassi said.

It was a sentiment shared by the boisterous crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier, where nervous backers cheered the Swiss from the first ball to the final game, clinched with a 127 mph service winner.

The 24-year-old Soderling shocked the top-ranked Nadal in the fourth round last Sunday. But Federer did not fall in line with other higher-ranked foes done in by Soderling’s cross-court power and steady placement; the second seed’s unyielding quality of play blunted the Swede’s bid for another momentous upset.

Federer weathered a bizarre episode when a man, later identified as “Jimmy Jump,” intruded onto the court and accosted Federer with Soderling serving at 1-2 in the second set — the match’s longest.

(with reporting from the Associated Press)

Reshuffled French Open offers a dodgy assortment of remaining contenders

Tuesday June 2, 2009 3:40 AM By Max J. Dickstein

Top-ranked Dinara Safina of Russia has dominated her competition at the French Open so far, losing only five games in four matches. She plays ninth-ranked Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

By Max J. Dickstein

With several title contenders and both defending champions eliminated at Roland Garros in recent days, only a handful of the 16 men and women remaining appear able to win the French Open.

Here's a look at a few players who are most likely to take the 2009 French Open singles titles:

From runner-up to front-runner: Roger Federer

Ravenous for his first title in Paris, Roger Federer has won 13 Grand Slams; no one else still in the men’s field even has one.

Federer's difficult keeping his game sharp mounted during the first four rounds. He has already dropped four sets — including the first two against Tommy Haas on Monday — as he prepares to face Gael Monfils in their quarterfinal match on Wednesday.

The flipside is that Federer's emotional investment in this tournament has escalated since Rafael Nadal's loss and his various escapes against early-round competition. The circumstances make him the favorite, if an enigmatic one. The Swiss maestro is both the premier player left in the draw and the competitor saddled with the heaviest doubts.Dueling at the top: Serena Williams, Dinara Safina

Second-seeded Serena Williams is tightening her grip on a third consecutive Grand Slam title. On Monday, she easily saw off 11th-ranked Alexandra Wozniak 6-2, 6-1. If we're being real here, Williams is the true No. 1.

Serena and Venus Williams have accounted for 17 Grand Slam titles, three since last summer at Wimbledon. Venus, an early-round upset victim on this trip to Roland Garros, is Serena's doubles partner and, during singles matches, Serena's constant supporter in the Roland Garros stands. Venus, as Serena avows, is the gracious and kind half of their sisterhood. Serena can seem harsh and even undeserving in her public comments, which rarely include credit for an opponents. Recently, she declared that she, not Safina, is the true No. 1 in women's tennis. But Serena's brashness speaks for her undiminished big-time game, which makes her the favorite to win this, and any, Grand Slam tournament.

Top-ranked Safina has one Grand Slam final and no major titles to her credit, but her consistent, elite results that crowned her as the latest women's player to gain the No. 1 ranking. The 2008 French Open finalist, and Marat Safin's 23-year-old sister, could consolidate her No. 1 ranking and status in the Safin family with a winning weekend.

Troublemakers: Andy Murray and Gael Monfils

Between these two young athletes, third-ranked Murray is the superior player. The Scotsman is an all-court tactician who will contend at majors deep into the future. But Monfils is the player of the moment.

The 22-year-old Frenchman demolished Andy Roddick in three blink-of-an-eye sets on Monday, finding winners everywhere he moved. His maniacal speed toward completing the match as night fell on Monday was comical, inconsiderate and scary, all at once. Monfils' switch to a powerful and forgiving Prince EXO3 Rebel 95 racket recently could help push him past Wilson devotee Federer on Wednesday. But Federer will perhaps be his undoing, having beaten Monfils in four sets in last year's French Open semifinals.

Murray plays with the lilting force of an album by Mogwai, a Scottish mood-rock group. Murray has owned Federer (4-0, but never winning in straight sets) since their meeting in Murray's maiden Grand Slam final last September, when Federer outclassed him in straight sets at the U.S. Open. To reach his second major final, where the 22-year-old Murray may be tapped as the favorite, he must emerge from Nadal's bracket. First up is the bold but beatable Chilean striker, Fernando Gonzalez.

Dream runners: Maria Sharapova and Robin Soderling

She is playing her first Grand Slam in a year and has no expectations for herself. He shocked the world by breaking down four-time champion Rafael Nadal. Neither of them seem likely to win a sixth or seventh match in this fortnight.

Column: Thrifty Mets missed Manny "Manny Being Banny" Ramirez

Thursday May 7, 2009 6:38 PM By Max J. Dickstein

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was suspended on Thursday for 50 games by Major League Baseball, the result of a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs. (Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

Over the long winter, free agent Manny Ramirez seemed like an obvious — and hugely expensive — solution to the Mets’ offensive deficiencies in clutch situations. Here was an all-time great hitter ready to be parked in left field, one who would make the Mets prohibitive World Series favorites.

So why, we wondered, didn’t the Mets pounce when Ramirez’s negotiations with the Dodgers dragged into March?

Why indeed.

Never mind that the Mets, with Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis, would have had enough depth to compensate for the loss of Ramirez for 50 games (had be been caught using performance-enhancing drugs as a $45 million star for the Mets). Never mind his career .315 batting average or his 533 home runs, statistics that qualify Ramirez as one of history’s great right-handed hitters.

As the A-Rod saga has demonstrated, New York doesn’t suffer cheats well.

The twin, high-profile busts of two New York sports icons would have caused the on-field results of both teams to devolve into a kind of hysterical irrelevance. Or if it hadn’t — if either man’s transgression was succeeded by a championship that erased bitter memories — well, that would be the most cynical outcome possible.

Mike Francesa goes bananas over Joba Chamberlain phone call

Thursday May 28, 2009 4:08 PM By Pete Catapano

Thanks to Neil Best from Newsday for posting this on his great sports media blog, Watchdog.

Essentially, a caller to Francesa's show on WFAN was making the argument that Joba Chamberlain was a solid starter. As the caller made his case, Francesa started getting steamed. And when the caller compared Chamberlain's numbers to Andy Pettitte's, Francesa blew his top.

Watch it here

— Pete Catapano

The Equalizer: Lionel Messi vs. Crisitano Ronaldo makes Manchester vs. Barcelona a must-see match

Tuesday May 26, 2009 5:24 PM By Max J. Dickstein

Lionel Messi, the Argentine forward, leads Barcelona. (Getty Images)

By Andrew Keh

Special to amNewYork

If you’re on the subway, reading amNewYork on your way to work on Wednesday, get off at the next stop, make your way across the platform, and head back in the opposite direction. If you’re already at the office, begin planning your escape.

Because if you don’t, you risk missing one of the most alluring, potentially fantastic sporting events you will see this year.

At 2:45 Wednesday afternoon — an inconvenient time for many among New York’s white-collared masses — Manchester United and Barcelona will square off in Rome for the 2009 Champions League trophy. When the knockout round draw was revealed in December, this was its “dream final”: a battle between the world’s two best clubs, the matchup everyone wanted to see.

Today, it comes true.On one side will be the Red Devils from Manchester, who this season won their 18th league title using a trademarked blend of staunch defense and counterattacking élan. As defending champions, they are considered slight favorites to win.

On the other will be La Blaugrana of Catalonia, who topped La Liga for their 19th league title with a singular philosophy — attack, attack, and attack a bit more — in a perpetual quest to produce beautiful soccer.

On paper, it is brilliant game for the neutral fan, a confrontation made for TV. And of course, there is plenty subplot.

For the past couple of weeks, at water coolers around the city, sports fans have asked one another: LeBron or Kobe? Next week, new battle lines will be drawn: Federer or Nadal?

But today, there is only one question: Ronaldo or Messi?

Do you enjoy the gratuitous flash, punishing speed, knuckling shots, whirling step-overs and operatic gestures of United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, reigning World Player of the Year?

Or do you prefer the dizzying dribbling, fearless runs into traffic, subtle demeanor and even subtler touch of the diminutive Lionel Messi, the purveyor of the finest “one-two” pass in soccer and likely successor to Ronaldo for the sport’s most coveted individual award.

Whichever you prefer, the chance to see the world’s two best players on the same field — in club soccer’s biggest game no less — is a rare opportunity.

Call in sick, if you must. Take a two-hour lunch.

Watch this game.

Yankees in red - you're not seeing things

Monday May 25, 2009 3:11 PM By Pete Catapano

Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes wears a red cap on the mound Monday in honor of Memorial Day (AP Photo)

By Pete Catapano

Here's a weird sight. That's Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes wearing a red Yankees cap while on the mound this afternoon against the Rangers in Texas.

It's not about style, it's about honoring Memorial Day in a league-wide showing of respect to the country's fallen soldiers. The umpires are also wearing red today in Texas. (The Rangers already wear red)

For those keeping score at home, this is the first time the Yanks have worn red hats.

The league will also do this on July 4 and Sept. 11

Bobby Valentine's day's numbered in Japan?

Monday May 25, 2009 1:47 PM By Pete Catapano

By Pete Catapano

Former Met manager Bobby, famously fiery and unique, may be close to the end of his successful run in Japan, the Los Angeles Times is reporting.

Valentine, manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines, was apparently told by the team in the off-season that this would be his last year with the team because they can no longer afford his $3.9 million salary.

If he has priced himself out of the Japanese market, he could land the payday he's looking for back in MLB.

A picture we never get tired of: Bobby Valentine in disguise in the Mets dugout after getting thrown out of a game in 1999.In nearly seven seasons with the Mets, from 1996-2002, Valentine posted a 536-467 record with a one pennant.

Perhaps his most famous moment, as seen in the photo above, was in a 1999 game when he snuck back into the dugout wearing a mustache and sunglasses.

I think we can all agree, there needs to be more disguises in baseball.

The Times said the move had sparked protests and a petition to keep him that has 50,000 signatures.

If the Mets miss the playoffs again, would — and should — the team have him back?

Book review: "Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal and the Greatest Match Ever Played" by L. Jon Wertheim

Wednesday May 20, 2009 9:05 PM By Max J. Dickstein

"Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal and the Greatest Match Ever Played"

L. Jon Wertheim

224 pages, $24

(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

By Max J. Dickstein

The stunning 2008 Wimbledon final — in which Rafael Nadal toppled the five-time champion Roger Federer — never was adequately chronicled by the writers who gushed over it for days last July.

It was all too much to encapsulate. From the contrast between the men to the weight of tennis history to the world-class quality of the play, the five-set classic cried out for a full-length account.

Enter “Strokes of Genius,” published next month, a gripping narrative of the match.

Sports Illustrated writer L. Jon Wertheim offers both finite focus and wide scope. On one page, he explores the inner physiological state of the contestants during one of match’s many rain delays; on another page, he monitors the fickle movement of the betting lines during the seesaw duel.

The book’s occasionally hyperbolic style lacks the in-game focus of the definitive one-match tennis book, John McPhee’s “Levels of the Game,” which spends paragraphs suspended within a single stroke of a single point of a 1968 U.S. Open semifinal.

But Wertheim’s involving tone is well suited to the sweep of his project, which successfully reawakens the excitement of one of the greatest encounters in sports history.