According to John Harper of the New York Daily News, former Yankees pitcher and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre‘s health is improving as he continues to battle multiple myeloma. Stottlemyre was diagnosed with the blood cancer in 1999, and has battled against the illness ever since.
On Old-Timers Day this past season, the Yankees honored him with a plaque in Monument Park. Stottlemyre addressed the crowd on that day, saying that he was “ready to coach in heaven.” At that point, many fans and people within the Yankees organization started to expect the worst with regards to his long-term health.