When Brett Gardner established himself on the major league roster in 2009 (he did play forty-two games in 2008), it seemed that New York Yankee fans had a lot to cheer about. His quick feet and base stealing success in the minors made him a sure bet as the lead off hitter of the future. (more…)

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March 17, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Cory Wade (53) throws a pitch in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Wade has allowed just a hit and no walks over 2.2 innings. Along with displaying effectiveness and control, the Indianapolis and ex-Dodgers product has also fanned five batters. Perhaps this shouldn’t be a surprise, as Wade was outstanding in 2011, going 6-1 with a 2.04 ERA. He allowed just 33 hits in 39.2 innings while striking out 30 batters and walking just eight.
The Yankees can thank the Dodgers for shipping Wade back down to the minors after a poor 2009 campaign. He was terrific in 2008 in Dodger blue, giving up just 51 hits in 71.1 innings. New York has to like this steadier version of Wade in 2012 as it works to dig out of an early hole.

OK, maybe not that bad since we’re still in Spring Training … but it still hurts a bit. The pain decreased for Swish, and Yankee fans, with his 4-for-8 performance in intrasquad action. He singled twice, doubled and homered and also drew a pair of walks in what has become the Yankee way.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

If Swisher isn’t the soul of the Yankees—that honor understandably belongs to a Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera—Swisher may well be the heart. No one plays the game with more joy and passion than “Swish” and he happily draws attention from other players who otherwise may not want it.

Swisher’s more than just a happy-go-lucky guy though, he can put up big-time numbers with 53 extra-base hits last season, including 23 home runs. He also drove in 85 runs and drew 95 bases-on-balls.

While Swisher may not be a future Hall of Famer he has become a fan-favorite and very important New York Yankee contributor. That’s pretty cool stuff as it is, as Swisher himself would certainly agree.

Those could almost be my words, as a writer from that area and having used the word ‘love’ to describe my feelings for sport’s greatest team, but I am not Dan Barry and I don’t work for the New York Times. Oh, if I only did … . Barry’s story, that ran on  Sunday, was about having baseball cards of some not so great Yankees.

Yes, even with all those world championships the Yankees have had their Horace Clarke’s, Fritz Peterson’s and Dooley Womack’s … and Barry still owns their cards.  Clarke, a second baseman and Peterson, a pitcher, I have heard of … but Dooley Womack? Who the heck is Dooley Womack?

Dooley Womack

Womack, I have since learned, was a pretty good Yankees pitcher during one of  the team’s pretty rare dry spells … the late 1960′s.  He sported a 19-18 record with 24 saves and an ERA to brag about of 2.95. The hard-worker, who sold men’s clothing in the offseason, actually had something in common with Clarke, too, in sharing a “real” first name of Horace.

So, in effect, Horace Dooley Womack pitched during the Horace Clarke era, considered the time period from 1966-73.  If Womack wanted to stretch the truth, the South Carolinian could say HIS name was used to describe an era of Yankee baseball.

And Horace seemed like such an average name at first … but in Yankee Universe nothing is quite what it seems.

The good folks over at Baseball Instinct wrote up a terrific profile of Jose back in August, and you can check it out here. Bart Klett breaks down the kid’s mechanics, pitches and even has video of him pitching (which I jacked; see below). It’s good stuff, I promise.

Now the next time some a-hole asks you who the other guy they got in the Jesus trade is, you can be a know-it-all prick and spout off all this info. You’re welcome.