Horace Clarke, a second baseman from the U.S. Virgin Islands who had a solid 10-year playing career but unwittingly became the face of the Yankees' fall from grace from the mid-1960s to mid-'70s, died Wednesday at age 81. Clarke played for the Yankees from 1965-74, almost precisely the period of time when the team did not win anything -- the longest stretch that the Yankees did not reach the postseason since their rise to prominence in the '20s. But while Clarke wound up playing for a lot of losing and mediocre teams, he became the face of the team's decline that began the very season he arrived. "The Horace Clarke Era" is something many might have heard about. It's the punch line that's repeatedly been used by a certain generation to describe the Yankees' period between Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard and Whitey Ford to that of Thurman Munson
Joe DiMaggio Jersey, Reggie Jackson, Graig Nettles and Ron Guidry -- the dark period during which the Yankees lost more games than they won, lost more fans than they drew, the Bronx began to burn and baseball's greatest franchise became mostly faceless. But it shouldn't be forgotten that Clarke, signed out of Saint Croix in 1958 and having spent parts of eight years total in the Minors, led the American League in at-bats in '69 and '70, hit .285 in '69 and walked more often than he struck out throughout his career, 365-362. The numbers weren't great, but Clarke twice led the AL in singles ('67 and '69), and though he was criticized by some for bailing out on double-play pivots, he turned more than 100 of them in three seasons and had a .983 career fielding percentage. His numbers were fine for the time in which he played, and they kept him a starter for more than seven seasons. He played in the field with his batting helmet on, and he finished his 10-year career with a .256 average and 151 stolen bases. Clarke was the fifth U.S. Virgin Islander to play in the Major Leagues, according to the St. John Source, succeeding Bobby Richardson as the Yankees' second baseman in 1967. He is one of just five Major Leaguers in the Modern Era whose first two career homers went for grand slams. And in 1970, he broke up three no-hit bids in the ninth inning, against Jim Rooker of the Royals on June 4, Sonny Siebert of the Red Sox on June 19, and Joe Niekro of the Tigers on July 2. “I know I got a lot of criticism for playing Horace Clarke as much as I did, but he was a lot better ballplayer than anyone gave him credit for,” late Yankees manager Ralph Houk once said, as quoted in numerous outlets. With Major League rosters trimmed to 28 players on Thursday, the Yankees optioned infielder/outfielder Miguel Andújar, infielder Thairo Estrada and right-hander Nick Nelson to the club's alternate training site in Moosic, Pa. In a corresponding move, the Yankees purchased the contract of right-hander Nick Tropeano. A product of West Islip, N.Y., Tropeano figures to provide bullpen depth with a doubleheader scheduled for this weekend against the Rays at Tropicana Field. “We felt like we needed another pitcher,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We needed some coverage for this stretch of games with guys having some pretty good workloads a number of days in a row.” Tropeano, who attended Spring Training and Summer Camp as a non-roster invitee, has pitched to a 4.51 ERA over 42 career games (39 starts) with the Astros and Angels since his big league debut in 2014. The Yankees have spoken highly of Andújar, a third baseman by trade who increased his versatility by agreeing to play the outfield earlier this year. The 25-year-old Andújar was 1-for-14 (.071) this season, appearing in five games -- four in left field and one at third base. “Unfortunately, I've had to have a few of those conversations with really good players that are good big league players,” Boone said. “It's the result of having a deep and talented roster, but that doesn't make it any easier when you're telling a Major Leaguer that you have to option him
Jorge Posada Jersey.”Estrada offered defensive versatility to the Opening Day roster, boasting the ability to play three infield positions as well as the outfield, but playing time was scarce for the 24-year-old. Estrada was 2-for-2 with one run scored and one RBI in two games this season. Boone said he considers players like Andújar, Estrada and outfielder Clint Frazier to be “a play away from a regular opportunity.” The 24-year-old Nelson enjoyed a Major League debut to remember on Aug. 1 against the Red Sox, firing three scoreless, hitless innings of relief to earn the win in a 5-2 victory over Boston. He struggled in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Phillies, charged with seven runs (six earned) and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. MLB has announced that 28-player rosters will remain in place from Thursday through the end of 2020 season, including the postseason. Doubleheaders will allow a 29th player, and taxi squads may increase from three to five players. Fans have loved watching the Yankees'ongoing power display -- 23 homers in 11 games entering Thursday
Lou Gehrig Jersey, a franchise record to begin a season -- so imagine how the pitchers in the team's bullpen have felt. Luis Avila?n said the relievers are cheering right along with those viewers at home. “It's phenomenal,” Avila?n said. “When you have this kind of offense, it will take pressure away from the pitching staff. You still want to go to the mound and not give up runs, obviously -- no pitcher wants to do that. But it definitely takes pressure away, because we know if we have a bad day and give up runs, we have a really good lineup at our back.” Boone said the Yankees held a meeting between players and the security team to discuss the more stringent protocols handed down this week by Major League Baseball
Luke Voit Jersey, which will include mandatory face masks for any players or coaches who are not on the field and several other measures related to travel. “There's obviously more eyes and more people monitoring,” Boone said. “Whether it's at the hotel or in the clubhouse, guys are going to be checked on that, more than just from peer-to-peer. … Being a little more stringent, it will give us an opportunity to all stay safe.” Bomber bits Aaron Judge and DJ LeMahieu were not in the Yankees'lineup on Thursday, which Boone said was a strategic decision to offer rest in advance of this weekend's series against the Rays that includes a doubleheader. Gary Sánchez reported “some soreness and some stiffness” in his left elbow after being hit by a pitch on Wednesday, according to Boone, but the catcher was “pretty adamant” that he wanted to play on Thursday. Aroldis Chapman's first bullpen session on Wednesday “went well,” Boone said. Chapman is scheduled to throw his second bullpen session on Saturday at the alternate training site. The plan is for Chapman to face hitters early next week. NEW YORK - As the Yankees belt balls out of the ballpark at an impressive pace
Mariano Rivera Jersey, Gary Sánchez is one of the few hitters who has experienced a slow start at the plate, but the catcher is earning consistent praise from the team's new ace right-hander. For the third time in as many starts, Gerrit Cole spoke highly of his developing relationship with Sánchez following the Yanks'6-3 victory over the Phillies on Monday at Yankee Stadium. Cole credited Sánchez for guiding him through six innings of one-run ball, which bolstered his record to 3-0. “I think it's going great,” Cole said. “He's always finding me in between the innings, communicating about what pitches he liked. He picked up on a couple tips in the batter's box [on Monday], which I thought was really helpful. He's been on his game behind the dish, especially pitch-calling and picking up some tips here and there.” Sánchez went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the victory, and he's 2-for-25 (.080) with 14 strikeouts this year. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he believes Sánchez is showing signs of improvement offensively, dating to a solid at-bat in the final game of the Orioles' series on July 30. “He had a couple of the games in the Boston series where I thought he was better,” Boone said. “He's kind of chasing that hit a little bit. He's just got to continue to trust that he can control the zone and really stay in his legs. When he does, that will take off.” Sánchez batted .232/.316/.525 with 34 homers and 77 RBIs in 106 games last season, compiling a 119 OPS+. Cole said that he and the Yankees'pitchers have appreciated Sánchez's dedication behind the plate, even as he battles a rough stretch in the batter's box. “It's not easy to not take the offense out on the field,” Cole said. “As players, we all kind of understand that. It's easy to rally around a guy that is really taking pride in his defense, even though he may be a little bit frustrated with how it's going in the batter's box.”