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kevin kernan

Kevin Kernan

A Post writer from 1981-88 who returned in 1997, Kevin Kernan has been covering baseball since 1999. He also covered the Knicks, Nets, Giants, college basketball and boxing. An author of five books, he’s won the Excellence in Journalism Award presented by the New Jersey Sportswriters Association. A member of the Ramapo College Hall of Fame, he was presented with a Distinguished Achievement in RV Journalism Award for his RV journey to Super Bowl XLII.

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    Rivera's fire took root in kids' games

    TAMPA -- In many ways, Mariano Rivera is the Yankees' MOst Valuable Player. Just think where this franchise would be without the great Rivera. To truly understand Rivera, you have to go back to his days growing up in...  

    March 12, 2010 12:00 AM
  • Just say you stink, already Joba

    LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Yankees are throwing around excuses like Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes are throwing around gopher balls. You can make spring training work for you in any fashion you want, and right now the...  

    March 11, 2010 12:00 AM
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    Sound familiar? CC 'terrible' in second spring start

    TAMPA — Perhaps CC stands for carbon copy. In his second start last spring, CC Sabathia was hammered all over Joker Marchant Stadium in a 7-4 loss to the Tigers, surrendering five runs on six hits over 12⁄3 innings....  

    March 10, 2010 1:34 AM
  • A-Rod close again with old pal Jeter

    BRADENTON, Fla. -- The bond of winning a championship together has created a tighter bond between Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. They drove here together yesterday from Tampa for the Yankees' split-squad 6-0 win...  

    March 09, 2010 12:00 AM
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    Yankees' Pettitte doesn’t need bright lights

    TAMPA — The last time Andy Pettitte faced hitters was Game 6 of the World Series, the clinching game for the Yankees’ 27th championship. His stage yesterday was about as far removed from the glare of the World Series as...  

    March 08, 2010 2:51 AM
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    Players put creative stamp on new gear

    TAMPA — Yankees and Mets players have produced their own Fashion Week. Turns out some of them are design stars, too. CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Johan Santana and Carlos Beltran, among others, designed their own jersey...  

    March 07, 2010 2:35 AM
  • Catcher's beaning could give Yankees headaches

    TAMPA — Brian Cashman said he heard the explosion of fastball hitting Francisco Cervelli’s helmet up on the fourth level of George M. Steinbrenner Field. “It was scary,” the Yankees GM said yesterday after the 9-1 loss...  

    March 07, 2010 2:09 AM
  • Chamberlain learning to deal with the Joba

    TAMPA -- When you live in a world of great expec tations, everything matters, even your first spring training perform ance a few days after losing a bout to the stomach flu. That is Joba Chamber lain's world, and...  

    March 06, 2010 12:00 AM
  • Worry level spikes with Yankees DH scratched

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — You just knew that at some point Nick Johnson was going to get injured. It happens. But before the second game of spring training and before the game? What in the name of Johnny Damon is going on?...  

    March 05, 2010 1:33 AM
  • Yankees' Granderson is center of attention

    TAMPA — Bernie Williams, a pretty good guitar player, also knows what playing center field for the Yankees is all about. “It can be considered sacred ground,” Williams said yesterday. Williams is so right. Center...  

    March 04, 2010 2:29 AM
  • Keep Jeter in pinstripes, even as owner

    TAMPA -- The Yankees need to find a way to make Derek Jeter a Yankee for Life. There's really only one way. At some point the Steinbrenner family would have to take him into the ownership group. The Yankees will...  

    March 03, 2010 12:00 AM
  • Lightning-Rod still attracts controversy

    TAMPA -- Alex Rodriguez was whistling yesterday as he pulled on his baseball pants. He then went out and launched bombs during batting practice, and did all his hitting and fielding work with a sweat and a smile....  

    March 02, 2010 12:00 AM
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    New Yankee Granderson improving vs. lefties

    TAMPA -- The Granderson Project is in full swing. Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson took live batting practice off a left-hander on Field 2 yesterday and early in the second round lined a pitch up the middle....  

    March 01, 2010 12:00 AM
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    Teammates already say Strasburg as good as advertised

    VIERA, Fla. — Nyjer Morgan, the smooth-talking center fielder for the Nationals, is standing in the middle of the clubhouse telling me about the nickname he came up with for phenom Stephen Strasburg. He calls him Jesus...  

    February 28, 2010 6:00 AM
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    Yankees sluggers even closer than 3 and 4

    TAMPA -- When you win a champion ship, the question is how do you get better? No team has won consecutive World Series since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000. To that end, Teixeira made a trip to Miami...  

    February 28, 2010 12:00 AM
  • Davis Mets' first baseman of future, maybe present

    PORT ST. LUCIE -- Ike Davis is waiting for his chance to succeed. He might not have to wait too long. Davis, the son of former Yankees reliever Ron Davis, is the Mets first baseman of the future. He's 6-foot-4, 230...  

    February 27, 2010 12:00 AM
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    Santana, Barajas in sync in Mets debut

    PORT ST. LUCIE -- The games have yet to start, but Johan Santana drew quite a crowd yesterday for his bullpen session on the group of mounds known as the six pack. Standing over his right shoulder were Mets owners...  

    February 26, 2010 12:00 AM
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    Mets' Francoeur says he'll hit 27 home runs this season

    PORT ST. LUCIE -- Jeff Francoeur is baseball's 5-hour Energy drink. And when he's swinging the bat well he's the perfect pick-me-up for the Mets. "He's the definition of an optimist," David Wright said yesterday on...  

    February 25, 2010 12:00 AM
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    Veteran Bay provides instant leadership

    PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets grew up a lot the moment Jason Bay walked through the clubhouse door yesterday. Don’t underestimate what Bay is going to bring to this team. They finally have a veteran everyday player who...  

    February 24, 2010 2:13 AM
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    Sandy on hand to help problematic Perez

    PORT ST. LUCIE -- Operation Ollie is in overdrive. The mission made a big push forward yesterday when baseball icon Sandy Koufax spent much of the workout with Oliver Perez. And if the legendary Koufax can't help...  

    February 23, 2010 12:00 AM
  • Koufax works with Perez at Mets spring training

    PORT ST. LUCIE -- If these guys can’t fix Oliver Perez, who can? Sandy Koufax showed up in Port St. Lucie today, and along with Mets ace Johan Santana, worked with Perez during his long toss and bullpen session. I...  

    February 22, 2010 11:07 AM
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    Ready for the Jenrry Rules?

    PORT ST. LUCIE -- The Mets may have their own little Joba situation brewing. Keep your eyes on young right-handed pitcher Jenrry Mejia. He threw a bullpen session yesterday and his stuff was, in manager Jerry...  

    February 22, 2010 12:00 AM
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    After HRs fall off, Mets' Wright adds muscle

    PORT ST. LUCIE — When your home run production drops from 33 to 10, you’ve got to change something. David Wright has done just that. Look closely at Wright and you see a much more defined body. His biceps are bigger....  

    February 21, 2010 3:25 AM
  • Manuel right to shake up Mets with order switch

    PORT ST. LUCIE -- When you're talking about a club that hit only 95 home runs last year, size matters. Citi Field is too big to make into a home-run haven, so you have to go with the flow. That's just one reason...  

    February 20, 2010 12:00 AM
  • Mets manager needs good start, badly

    PORT ST. LUCIE -- David Wright, Jose Reyes and now Johan Santana all have said they expect the Mets to win the World Series. The Mets are turning the page on an injury-plagued 2009 by making one bold statement after...  

    February 19, 2010 12:00 AM
  • Reyes ready for big 2010 with Mets

    PORT ST. LUCIE -- The 70-win Mets have come to this camp with an attitude. Jose Reyes showed yesterday that he has David Wright's back. Shortly after Wright told reporters in the dugout that he expected the 2010...  

    February 18, 2010 12:00 AM
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    Former Mets pitcher Jones more than one-hit wonder

    Bobby Jones served up one of the best postseason pitching performances in Mets history, one-hitting the Giants in the 2000 NLDS. Jones is one of just five pitchers in postseason history to pitch a shutout allowing one...  

    February 13, 2010 4:03 AM
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    Mom made Mays the man he is

    Willie Mays is the greatest baseball player alive, but there is so much more behind the man known as the Say Hey Kid. Author James Hirsch gets to the root of Mays in his new biography, "Willie Mays: The Life, The...  

    February 07, 2010 12:00 AM
  • Big fan CC says go get LeBron, Knicks

    Mike D'Antoni is looking for a playmaker. Good luck. The Knicks' best playmaker was sitting courtside last night: Yankees ace CC Sabathia. Operation LeBron is still in play, and that is the only hope the Knicks...  

    February 06, 2010 12:00 AM
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    Rehabbing Reyes ‘100 percent,’ ready to roar

    Jose Reyes ran like the wind yesterday. Then ran some more. For two hours, I watched the Mets shortstop work, testing his surgically repaired right leg time and again during the strenuous workout. There were 90-foot...  

    February 02, 2010 3:36 AM