I don't think I have to explain why the following people don't belong on Phil Pepe's list of Hall of Fame "no-brainers" -- but I will:
"BARRY BONDS -- He was in before the rumors." So was Mark Mcgwire.
"ICHIRO SUZUKI -- Needs to play only 3 more years to qualify." I'd vote for him, but Japan stats don't count.
"OMAR VIZQUEL -- 12 Gold Gloves, more hits than Ozzie Smith." Actually, Vizquel has 11 gold gloves, unless Pepe is assuming that Vizquel will win another this season. Jim Sundberg has 6 gold gloves. Bob Boone has 7. Mark Belanger has 8. Omar Vizquel is a .275 career hitter whose career high in RBIs is 72.
"No-brainer" means you don't have to think about it. It's unanimous. "No-brainer" is not supposed to mean "I made this list without using my brain."
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
... and I plan on having a talk with my shrink.
"If Kyle Farnsworth is still with the Yankees today, manager Joe Torre plans to have a talk with him."
Friday, July 27, 2007
Two words: Rick Tocchet.
Oddly enough, this seems to be a fairly common sentiment:
"All the cheating and indictments is starting to turn me off to these sports. If I want to enjoy some good, clean, all-American sports fun I may have to bring myself to do the unthinkable.... watch hockey."
"All the cheating and indictments is starting to turn me off to these sports. If I want to enjoy some good, clean, all-American sports fun I may have to bring myself to do the unthinkable.... watch hockey."
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
150 & 150.
The last player to score 150 runs and drive in 150 runs in the same season was Ted Williams in 1949.
There's more to this baseball season than Ruben Gotay.
"There is always a lot of high-priced talent in the room, though the price tag is never his price tag."
We all know by now that the Rangers still pay approximately $9 million of ARod's salary.
Which means the Yankees pay ARod approximately $17 million.
Pettitte, Jeter, Giambi all drain the budget more than ARod does. Abreu, Matsui, and Damon aren't far behind.
You know what I say?
I say ARod guns the ball to first and completes the double play. I say ARod manages a sac fly against Looper. I say Torre has six rings, at least, if ARod was on those teams.
We all know by now that the Rangers still pay approximately $9 million of ARod's salary.
Which means the Yankees pay ARod approximately $17 million.
Pettitte, Jeter, Giambi all drain the budget more than ARod does. Abreu, Matsui, and Damon aren't far behind.
You know what I say?
I say ARod guns the ball to first and completes the double play. I say ARod manages a sac fly against Looper. I say Torre has six rings, at least, if ARod was on those teams.
Mike Lupica is a desperate man.
May as well try to convince you that the Sun is an overrated star:
Lupica won't mention the record of the Texas Rangers. Please remember that Lupica claimed at the time that the Rangers were better off without ARod than the Yankees were with ARod.
I also like when people ask, "What if the Yankees don't make the playoffs?" Well, if they don't, it damned sure ain't ARod's fault.
If they do make the playoffs?
ARod should take October off and collect double the playoff money.
"If they don't make it, here is the progression for A-Rod, such as it is, since the Yankees made the big trade for him:
2004: Lose in the ALCS to the Red Sox, blowing a 3-0 lead in the process, the most epic calamity in the history of the organization.
2005: Lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Angels.
2006: Lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Tigers.
2007: Out of playoffs.
Nobody is saying that it is all on A-Rod, because it's not, because we know how the Yankees have pitched in October for a long time. There is always a lot of high-priced talent in the room, though the price tag is never his price tag. But it is also fair to say if he had been MVP Alex in, say, Game 6 against the Red Sox in '04, if he had been MVP Alex against the Angels or the Tigers, he might have his World Series ring already."
Lupica won't mention the record of the Texas Rangers. Please remember that Lupica claimed at the time that the Rangers were better off without ARod than the Yankees were with ARod.
I also like when people ask, "What if the Yankees don't make the playoffs?" Well, if they don't, it damned sure ain't ARod's fault.
If they do make the playoffs?
ARod should take October off and collect double the playoff money.
Monday, July 23, 2007
I got 99 rbis ...
... but a b* ain't one.
That sounded funny when I thought of it. Not so much when I wrote it down.
It was either Jay-Z or Nena.
That sounded funny when I thought of it. Not so much when I wrote it down.
It was either Jay-Z or Nena.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Those three homeruns must have been hit very far --
-- all the way from Scranton:
"And no, despite great stats, Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan isn't going to get his wish (as stated in yesterday's Scoop) to see son Shelley (who's averaged 24 homers the past four years) called up. Instead, the Yankees have talked about the A's' Dan Johnson and appear more focused on him than Shea Hillenbrand or Scott Hatteberg, who are available."
"And no, despite great stats, Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan isn't going to get his wish (as stated in yesterday's Scoop) to see son Shelley (who's averaged 24 homers the past four years) called up. Instead, the Yankees have talked about the A's' Dan Johnson and appear more focused on him than Shea Hillenbrand or Scott Hatteberg, who are available."
In times of peace, the warlike man attacks himself.
Mike Lupica often creates bizarre counter-arguments and then disproves them:
"By the way, it is worth repeating that the Yankees have no excuses the rest of the way."
Since day one, the Yankees have had no excuses. It doesn't matter if they did, anyway. Look at the standings to find out how good your team is.
"Not a single one, and please don't talk about Giambi, only saps expect Giambi to have injury-free seasons for the rest of his Yankee career, however long that career lasts."
Weird.
The only time I've heard anybody mention Giambi (Jason, I'm assuming, instead of Jeremy) over the past couple of months is to claim that the Yankees are better off without him.
"I wish everybody would please stop talking about Carlos Almanzar every time the Yankees have a problem with their bullpen."
"The Yankees have the team they were supposed to have, and have added the great season-saver, Roger Clemens.
They have the bullpen they were supposed to have, the closer they were supposed to have, they have all the position players on whom they should have been counting in place."
Well, yeah. The players are in place.
Except for the fact that a lot of these supposedly good players have been bad.
I don't think there are any excuses for that, nor have any been offered up.
"If they don't make the playoffs, then it is on this general manager, this manager, these players. It is on all of them."
Not Posada, Rivera, ARod, or Jeter.
"Guess what?
The Mets have had to overcome more adversity than the Yankees this season."
Well, the Mets are an underachieving $120 million team. That's what gets your batting coach fired. Just not quite as underachieving as the Yankees.
No excuses for the Mets, either.
Only saps expected Pedro and Alou to stay healthy for the lengths of their contracts, right?
"By the way, it is worth repeating that the Yankees have no excuses the rest of the way."
Since day one, the Yankees have had no excuses. It doesn't matter if they did, anyway. Look at the standings to find out how good your team is.
"Not a single one, and please don't talk about Giambi, only saps expect Giambi to have injury-free seasons for the rest of his Yankee career, however long that career lasts."
Weird.
The only time I've heard anybody mention Giambi (Jason, I'm assuming, instead of Jeremy) over the past couple of months is to claim that the Yankees are better off without him.
"I wish everybody would please stop talking about Carlos Almanzar every time the Yankees have a problem with their bullpen."
"The Yankees have the team they were supposed to have, and have added the great season-saver, Roger Clemens.
They have the bullpen they were supposed to have, the closer they were supposed to have, they have all the position players on whom they should have been counting in place."
Well, yeah. The players are in place.
Except for the fact that a lot of these supposedly good players have been bad.
I don't think there are any excuses for that, nor have any been offered up.
"If they don't make the playoffs, then it is on this general manager, this manager, these players. It is on all of them."
Not Posada, Rivera, ARod, or Jeter.
"Guess what?
The Mets have had to overcome more adversity than the Yankees this season."
Well, the Mets are an underachieving $120 million team. That's what gets your batting coach fired. Just not quite as underachieving as the Yankees.
No excuses for the Mets, either.
Only saps expected Pedro and Alou to stay healthy for the lengths of their contracts, right?
It makes for an uncomfortable postgame interview with Kim Jones.
"Wil Nieves didn't know what to think when manager Joe Torre called him into his office after last night's game, but he certainly didn't expect to hear what Torre told him: the Yankees had traded for catcher Jose Molina, and he would be designated for assignment as soon as Molina arrived from the Los Angeles Angels."
Baseball-wise, it's obviously not a huge story, nor a surprise.
But it's still got to stink when Suzyn Waldman, Michael Kay, and the entire metropolitan New York listening audience know about your firing before you do.
Baseball-wise, it's obviously not a huge story, nor a surprise.
But it's still got to stink when Suzyn Waldman, Michael Kay, and the entire metropolitan New York listening audience know about your firing before you do.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
It happened again.
Yankees 6, Blue Jays 4, top of the seventh inning. Scott Proctor pitching to Gregg Zaun with two outs and one on. Zaun walks.
Two on, two out, Yankees up by two.
Matt Stairs pinch hits for Royce Clayton.
Phillips visits the mound to stall. Posada visits the mound to stall. Myers is throwing like a crazy man in the bullpen trying to get warmed up.
Myers can not get warmed up in time, so, instead, Proctor pitches to Stairs.
Now, I know the Yankees won. In fact, Proctor struck out Stairs, luckily for Torre.
That's not the point. The point is, once again, Torre was caught sleeping.
I don't believe this kind of managerial inattention occurs with any other team. I don't recall this kind of managerial inattention occurring in previous seasons with Joe Torre. He's just mailing it in this season.
Seventy-two more games, Whitey.
Two on, two out, Yankees up by two.
Matt Stairs pinch hits for Royce Clayton.
Phillips visits the mound to stall. Posada visits the mound to stall. Myers is throwing like a crazy man in the bullpen trying to get warmed up.
Myers can not get warmed up in time, so, instead, Proctor pitches to Stairs.
Now, I know the Yankees won. In fact, Proctor struck out Stairs, luckily for Torre.
That's not the point. The point is, once again, Torre was caught sleeping.
I don't believe this kind of managerial inattention occurs with any other team. I don't recall this kind of managerial inattention occurring in previous seasons with Joe Torre. He's just mailing it in this season.
Seventy-two more games, Whitey.
Monday, July 16, 2007
A regular Knute Rockne.
This sounds like a leader ready to inspire his team to a second-half playoff run:
"Losing is tough enough, but having to explain it when a lot of times you can't explain it, that's tough. Then you throw in the issue of, 'Are you afraid of losing your job?' and all of that, you have to address it and I understand it, but it gets a little old. I'll never be sorry about that [coming back to manage in 2007], because I was enthusiastic coming in. Just because things don't fall into place the way you want, you can't say, 'I wish I didn't do it.' If I didn't do it, I never would have known. If I had sat home, I'd have always wondered if I could have made a difference one way or the other. When I think about winning four out of five World Series, how the hell did that happen? This game is very tough to be competitive all the time, and things like this happen. If it's my last year and this is the way it ends, it's not going to put a damper on my time here because so many good things have happened."
Not only is Torre living in the past, he's referring to the '07 season in the past tense.
"Losing is tough enough, but having to explain it when a lot of times you can't explain it, that's tough. Then you throw in the issue of, 'Are you afraid of losing your job?' and all of that, you have to address it and I understand it, but it gets a little old. I'll never be sorry about that [coming back to manage in 2007], because I was enthusiastic coming in. Just because things don't fall into place the way you want, you can't say, 'I wish I didn't do it.' If I didn't do it, I never would have known. If I had sat home, I'd have always wondered if I could have made a difference one way or the other. When I think about winning four out of five World Series, how the hell did that happen? This game is very tough to be competitive all the time, and things like this happen. If it's my last year and this is the way it ends, it's not going to put a damper on my time here because so many good things have happened."
Not only is Torre living in the past, he's referring to the '07 season in the past tense.
I was actually wondering about Ruben Gotay.
I saw a headline about Ruben Gotay and I thought it may be a nice change of pace. These writers with all this access and they very seldom scratch below the surface.
So, what does Mike Lupica have to say about Ruben Gotay?
I'm all ears:
"Gotay is the New York baseball season that is, amazingly, not about Alex Rodriguez and where he will make his $30 million next season.
...
He is in the shadows of A-Rod, the way just about everybody who plays baseball in New York is these days. Gotay makes what he makes in salary at a time when everybody else talks about the salary records that A-Rod is supposed to break, either here or someplace else.
But A-Rod is not the whole baseball season, no matter how much speculation about where he chases his own dreams, usually ones covered by dollar signs, completely dominated by them, next year. Maybe he will decide he is happier here, if the money is right.
Ruben Gotay, who wasn't supposed to be anywhere near A-Rod, or Jeter, or Wright, or Reyes, is happy right where he is. Batting second, playing second, Shea Stadium, New York."
I have my own dream: Witnesssing a Yankee player hit 50 home runs and drive in 150 runs. I doubt if I will ever witness this. But ARod '07 has a shot.
As for the quixotic prose for a backup infielder who earns a mere $400k to play a kids' game: If Ruben Gotay could hit like ARod, Ruben Gotay would get paid like ARod.
So, what does Mike Lupica have to say about Ruben Gotay?
I'm all ears:
"Gotay is the New York baseball season that is, amazingly, not about Alex Rodriguez and where he will make his $30 million next season.
...
He is in the shadows of A-Rod, the way just about everybody who plays baseball in New York is these days. Gotay makes what he makes in salary at a time when everybody else talks about the salary records that A-Rod is supposed to break, either here or someplace else.
But A-Rod is not the whole baseball season, no matter how much speculation about where he chases his own dreams, usually ones covered by dollar signs, completely dominated by them, next year. Maybe he will decide he is happier here, if the money is right.
Ruben Gotay, who wasn't supposed to be anywhere near A-Rod, or Jeter, or Wright, or Reyes, is happy right where he is. Batting second, playing second, Shea Stadium, New York."
I have my own dream: Witnesssing a Yankee player hit 50 home runs and drive in 150 runs. I doubt if I will ever witness this. But ARod '07 has a shot.
As for the quixotic prose for a backup infielder who earns a mere $400k to play a kids' game: If Ruben Gotay could hit like ARod, Ruben Gotay would get paid like ARod.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
That, I believe.
"You really have to let go of the final score because of a lot of times you can't control it. You can only control what you can control, and that's all based on effort," Torre added. "I have no trouble sleeping tonight, other than the final score."
Drink some warm milk.
Get a good night's sleep.
Wake up.
Eat an egg.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Have some fiber.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Exercise the brain with the daily word jumble in the newspaper.
Watch some Maury.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Drive to the ballpark.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Make a lineup.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Game starts.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Think of some good nicknames.
Talk to the press in the post game interview.
Drive home and get ready for another good night's sleep.
Drink some warm milk.
Get a good night's sleep.
Wake up.
Eat an egg.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Have some fiber.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Exercise the brain with the daily word jumble in the newspaper.
Watch some Maury.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Drive to the ballpark.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Make a lineup.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Game starts.
Take a nap.
Wake up.
Think of some good nicknames.
Talk to the press in the post game interview.
Drive home and get ready for another good night's sleep.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Never say never.
First, read this from July 7th:
"Jose Reyes never stops moving. He makes everyone on the Mets better because of his daily energy, and is the poster person for what high energy players do for their teams."
Then, read this, referring to a July 6th game:
"Manager Willie Randolph pulled Jose Reyes from the 4-0 loss to the Astros after he failed to run out a slow ground ball down the third-base line for the last out of the top of the eighth inning."
"Jose Reyes never stops moving. He makes everyone on the Mets better because of his daily energy, and is the poster person for what high energy players do for their teams."
Then, read this, referring to a July 6th game:
"Manager Willie Randolph pulled Jose Reyes from the 4-0 loss to the Astros after he failed to run out a slow ground ball down the third-base line for the last out of the top of the eighth inning."
Very entertaining interview.
Maybe Mike and the Mad Dog should calm down about the stupid song:
"Rick: Are you a Metallica fan?
Mariano Rivera: 'No.'
Follow up: Do you like the song? (Enter Sandman)?
Mariano Rivera: 'It’s all right. I didn’t even choose it. I don’t even know the lyrics to the song.' "
"Rick: Are you a Metallica fan?
Mariano Rivera: 'No.'
Follow up: Do you like the song? (Enter Sandman)?
Mariano Rivera: 'It’s all right. I didn’t even choose it. I don’t even know the lyrics to the song.' "
Monday, July 09, 2007
Don't lose the SI gig.
I don't recall if Heyman was a Yankee beat writer at Newsday. I also don't recall if he was known as a Torre lapdog. It's just hard to imagine any NY metro writer gaining clubhouse access after voicing an opinion such as this:
"AL Maury Wills Award (Worst Manager)
Joe Torre, Yankees. Let me get this right: Mariano Rivera can't come into tie games but he can come in when they're down 5-1? Calling Don Zimmer."
"AL Maury Wills Award (Worst Manager)
Joe Torre, Yankees. Let me get this right: Mariano Rivera can't come into tie games but he can come in when they're down 5-1? Calling Don Zimmer."
Sunday, July 08, 2007
I'm going to dwell on this cup of green tea.
"The nature of the errors - it wasn't like they were sloppy," Torre said. "Guys made diving plays to stop balls. Sure, it cost you a ballgame, but it's certainly not something I'm going to dwell on for sure, because these guys played their tails off."
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
YES Network polls crack me up every time.
They're blooper polls:
Poll Question: What's the biggest reason behind the Yankees' slump?
Starting pitching
839 Votes (33%)
Bullpen
1708 Votes (67%)
Offense
0 Votes (0%)
Poll Question: What's the biggest reason behind the Yankees' slump?
Starting pitching
839 Votes (33%)
Bullpen
1708 Votes (67%)
Offense
0 Votes (0%)
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
He singlehandedly has more homeruns than the entire Yankee outfield.
"Asked directly if the Yankees' lineup 'misses' Gary Sheffield's bat, Torre paused and then retorted, 'Do we miss that? Don't take anything from this, Gary is certainly a good player, but we missed him a long time last year and did well without him. I don't think Sheff would've made a difference here.' "
Plus, all the Yankee first basemen and designated hitters, all put together.
Plus, all the Yankee first basemen and designated hitters, all put together.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
1995 AD was a calendar year that occurred in history.
It was right between 1994 and 1996.
Peter Abraham seem to have conveniently forgotten about 1995, a year in which the Yankees made the playoffs for the first time since 1981.
He also seems to have conveniently forgotten that the Yankees were in first place in the strike-shortened season of 1994.
Winning percentages of .543, .619, and .549 in the years 1993 - 1995. Sounds like a team on the rise, doesn't it?:
"More than anyone else, Torre is responsible for turning a going-nowhere franchise back into the Yankees."
"More than anyone else," Torre is responsible for the Yankee good fortunes in the late '90s. Seriously, that's a downright foolish thing to say.
Mariano Duncan hit .340 in 1996 and deserves more praise than Joe Torre.
My list of the most responsible people:
1. Gene Michael.
2. George Steinbrenner.
3. Mariano Rivera.
4. Bernie Williams.
5. Derek Jeter.
6. Wade Boggs.
...
98. Graeme Lloyd.
99. Joe Torre.
100. Mike Aldrete.
101. Me.
"As each day passes, the Yankees look more and more like a bunch of guys content to cash their checks and move on to the next five-star hotel. The old "today we win" mentality has been replaced by individual agendas.
...
Blame Torre for that if you will. Many ungrateful fans have, harping on whom he chooses to pitch in the seventh inning instead of looking at the bigger picture of what he has accomplished. Torre gave the Yankees championships and class, two things sorely lacking before he showed up in 1996."
1. What does the bigger picture have to do with 2007? For a guy who completely forgot about 1994 and 1995, Abraham sure seems to live in the past.
2. "Blame Torre for the team's attitude if you will." I think the manager of the team is the perfect person to blame.
3. Buck Showalter is as classy as Joe Torre. Joe Girardi seems to be classy. As a bonus, both of them can probably name the starting pitcher on the opposing team.
Peter Abraham seem to have conveniently forgotten about 1995, a year in which the Yankees made the playoffs for the first time since 1981.
He also seems to have conveniently forgotten that the Yankees were in first place in the strike-shortened season of 1994.
Winning percentages of .543, .619, and .549 in the years 1993 - 1995. Sounds like a team on the rise, doesn't it?:
"More than anyone else, Torre is responsible for turning a going-nowhere franchise back into the Yankees."
"More than anyone else," Torre is responsible for the Yankee good fortunes in the late '90s. Seriously, that's a downright foolish thing to say.
Mariano Duncan hit .340 in 1996 and deserves more praise than Joe Torre.
My list of the most responsible people:
1. Gene Michael.
2. George Steinbrenner.
3. Mariano Rivera.
4. Bernie Williams.
5. Derek Jeter.
6. Wade Boggs.
...
98. Graeme Lloyd.
99. Joe Torre.
100. Mike Aldrete.
101. Me.
"As each day passes, the Yankees look more and more like a bunch of guys content to cash their checks and move on to the next five-star hotel. The old "today we win" mentality has been replaced by individual agendas.
...
Blame Torre for that if you will. Many ungrateful fans have, harping on whom he chooses to pitch in the seventh inning instead of looking at the bigger picture of what he has accomplished. Torre gave the Yankees championships and class, two things sorely lacking before he showed up in 1996."
1. What does the bigger picture have to do with 2007? For a guy who completely forgot about 1994 and 1995, Abraham sure seems to live in the past.
2. "Blame Torre for the team's attitude if you will." I think the manager of the team is the perfect person to blame.
3. Buck Showalter is as classy as Joe Torre. Joe Girardi seems to be classy. As a bonus, both of them can probably name the starting pitcher on the opposing team.
Just stop talking about your baseball team.
Tell some more anecdotes about Leo Durocher or Bob Gibson. You're good at that.
Joe Torre recently uttered these words:
"Torre returned slumping Bobby Abreu to the No. 3 slot in the batting order, saying, 'I liked his at-bats' in Friday night's 2-1 victory, in which Abreu went 1-for-4. 'I'm more comfortable with him in that spot. This is where I want him to succeed.' "
Today, Robinson Cano is batting third and Bobby Abreu is batting seventh.
No, I don't know why Alex Rodriguez can not bat third. Or why Derek Jeter can not bat third.
No, I don't know why Robinson Cano would bat third, possibly the only worse choice than Abreu. At least Abreu has some patience at the plate and some speed on the basepaths.
No, I don't know why Torre insists of lefty-righty-lefty-right-lefty-righty.
Most of all, I don't know how Joe Torre maintains credibility when he continually says one thing and does another.
Torre is not angry at Cano, Proctor, or Farnsworth. Torre is angry that Pettitte and Posada took matters into their own hands.
Joe Torre recently uttered these words:
"Torre returned slumping Bobby Abreu to the No. 3 slot in the batting order, saying, 'I liked his at-bats' in Friday night's 2-1 victory, in which Abreu went 1-for-4. 'I'm more comfortable with him in that spot. This is where I want him to succeed.' "
Today, Robinson Cano is batting third and Bobby Abreu is batting seventh.
No, I don't know why Alex Rodriguez can not bat third. Or why Derek Jeter can not bat third.
No, I don't know why Robinson Cano would bat third, possibly the only worse choice than Abreu. At least Abreu has some patience at the plate and some speed on the basepaths.
No, I don't know why Torre insists of lefty-righty-lefty-right-lefty-righty.
Most of all, I don't know how Joe Torre maintains credibility when he continually says one thing and does another.
Torre is not angry at Cano, Proctor, or Farnsworth. Torre is angry that Pettitte and Posada took matters into their own hands.
Mission 27 in 2009.
"We could be talking fugettaboutit for the next year and 2009, too, when the Yankees move into their new stadium across the street. We're looking at a 1965-type overall decay here, reaching all the way down through the farm system where, thanks to 13 years of fruitless drafts, there is nothing coming in the near future to replenish the lineup."
One of the reasons it has been difficult for the Yankees to draft well is because they've always been drafting last.
"The entire outfield of Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu is clearly past its prime and in need of being replaced."
For one thing, I disagree that Matsui and Abreu are clearly past their prime. Damon may be irretrievably injured. Matsui and Abreu are slumping.
Besides, you want to replace them all? No sweat.
The 2009 Yankee starting outfield will be Kevin Thompson, Melky Cabrera, and Ichiro Suzuki.
"There is no first baseman."
No DH, either.
Even easier to replace than outfielders.
"Nobody wants to talk about the fact that Derek Jeter will be 35 when the Yankees are in the new ballpark in '09 ... "
"Nobody wants to talk about the fact that Derek Jeter will be 35 ... "
Nobody who? I'll bet I could wave a microphone in front of about 100 million American citizens and they would gladly talk about Jeter's age
Besides, Jeter is playing the best baseball in his career. Look around MLB, Bill Madden. Thirty-five is the new twenty-five.
" ... and the silence has been deafening regarding that opt-out clause in Alex Rodriguez's contract. Whereas a couple of months ago the Yankees could smugly say they would not allow themselves to be held hostage by A-Rod, now it may not even be their choice."
I don't even know what to say about this comment.
I hear about the opt-out every day.
The silence you hear is probably the accumulation of endless white noise.
I have a solution, which should be fairly obvious. Sign Prime ARod to an extension.
In 2009, possess the best left side of the infield in the history of baseball.
"Why, after all, would A-Rod want to stay here as a centerpiece of a team in patchwork decay when he could go to a genuine contender in Anaheim and (at least initially) find love?"
Money is why.
"But while good organizations are built around pitching, it takes time (and these days it seems at least one arm operation) before young pitchers start having an impact at the major league level. Top prospect Phil Hughes is a prime example. Good as he may be, the Yankees can't seem to get him on the mound this year. And right now, Joba Chamberlain, Alan Horne and Ian Kennedy are just guys putting up impressive numbers in Double-A - as did Tyler Clippard and Chase Wright in the lower minors last year."
Good. Wang, Hughes, a couple of free agents, and one more minor leaguer. We're set for 2009.
"Ironically, the Yankees don't even have a suitable replacement for Torre, unless you believe Don Mattingly, with no managing experience, is the man to preside over what surely is going to be a difficult next couple of rebuilding years."
What is ironic about that statement?
Besides, the next Yankee manager will be Joe Girardi -- ironically, starting Monday. Hiring Girardi is like rain on your wedding day, a green light when you're already late.
One of the reasons it has been difficult for the Yankees to draft well is because they've always been drafting last.
"The entire outfield of Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu is clearly past its prime and in need of being replaced."
For one thing, I disagree that Matsui and Abreu are clearly past their prime. Damon may be irretrievably injured. Matsui and Abreu are slumping.
Besides, you want to replace them all? No sweat.
The 2009 Yankee starting outfield will be Kevin Thompson, Melky Cabrera, and Ichiro Suzuki.
"There is no first baseman."
No DH, either.
Even easier to replace than outfielders.
"Nobody wants to talk about the fact that Derek Jeter will be 35 when the Yankees are in the new ballpark in '09 ... "
"Nobody wants to talk about the fact that Derek Jeter will be 35 ... "
Nobody who? I'll bet I could wave a microphone in front of about 100 million American citizens and they would gladly talk about Jeter's age
Besides, Jeter is playing the best baseball in his career. Look around MLB, Bill Madden. Thirty-five is the new twenty-five.
" ... and the silence has been deafening regarding that opt-out clause in Alex Rodriguez's contract. Whereas a couple of months ago the Yankees could smugly say they would not allow themselves to be held hostage by A-Rod, now it may not even be their choice."
I don't even know what to say about this comment.
I hear about the opt-out every day.
The silence you hear is probably the accumulation of endless white noise.
I have a solution, which should be fairly obvious. Sign Prime ARod to an extension.
In 2009, possess the best left side of the infield in the history of baseball.
"Why, after all, would A-Rod want to stay here as a centerpiece of a team in patchwork decay when he could go to a genuine contender in Anaheim and (at least initially) find love?"
Money is why.
"But while good organizations are built around pitching, it takes time (and these days it seems at least one arm operation) before young pitchers start having an impact at the major league level. Top prospect Phil Hughes is a prime example. Good as he may be, the Yankees can't seem to get him on the mound this year. And right now, Joba Chamberlain, Alan Horne and Ian Kennedy are just guys putting up impressive numbers in Double-A - as did Tyler Clippard and Chase Wright in the lower minors last year."
Good. Wang, Hughes, a couple of free agents, and one more minor leaguer. We're set for 2009.
"Ironically, the Yankees don't even have a suitable replacement for Torre, unless you believe Don Mattingly, with no managing experience, is the man to preside over what surely is going to be a difficult next couple of rebuilding years."
What is ironic about that statement?
Besides, the next Yankee manager will be Joe Girardi -- ironically, starting Monday. Hiring Girardi is like rain on your wedding day, a green light when you're already late.
Torre's Last Game.
I know I've made the same prediction previously, but c'cmon ... one hit?
Getting shown up by the likes of Kyle Farnsworth?
Scott Proctor setting his clothes on fire?
Every team the Yankees play is slumping until they play the Yankees.
Posada and Torre used phrases such as "going through the motions" and "phoning it in," though Torre used his typical passive-aggressive reverso-speak: "I'm not saying the players were phoning it in" while the words were coming out of his mouth.
Insisting on batting Abreu third because batting Abreu third makes you "comfortable"?
If you want to be comfortable, grab a seat by the pool with a margarita. You've earned it, old man.
Getting shown up by the likes of Kyle Farnsworth?
Scott Proctor setting his clothes on fire?
Every team the Yankees play is slumping until they play the Yankees.
Posada and Torre used phrases such as "going through the motions" and "phoning it in," though Torre used his typical passive-aggressive reverso-speak: "I'm not saying the players were phoning it in" while the words were coming out of his mouth.
Insisting on batting Abreu third because batting Abreu third makes you "comfortable"?
If you want to be comfortable, grab a seat by the pool with a margarita. You've earned it, old man.
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