Morenau Edges Jeter for AL MVP.
This is the reason that I put little stock in awards that are voted on. That one baseball writer actually had Jeter sixth on his ballot . . . words fail me . . . is beyond childish. That said, Morneau had a fine year, Jeter handled it in classy fashion, and again, take a look at your average baseball writer's work -- we should go nuts over some award they subjectively give out?
The Soriano Factor Kicks In Already.
Gary Matthews Jr. signs with Anaheim for 5 years at more than $10 million per. Juan Pierre joins up with the Dodgers for $44 million over 5 years. Frank Catalanato, yes the Frank Catalanato, signs with Texas for $13.5 million for four.
What's Barry Zito going to get -- $16 million a year? $17 million? Zito is, let's face it, a #3 starter . . . maybe a #2 in an otherwise indifferent rotation. The perenially underachieving JD Drew? Carlos Lee? All of them, and others, are headed into the MegaMillionaires Club thanks to the owners' giddiness over the new TV deal and extended labor peace.
Of course it can't last . . . a couple of years from now the owners will be back to clamoring for a salary cap, bemoaning their inability to make any money owning a baseball team, and I'll have to listen to more interviews with Bud Selig, wherein the Commissioner talks in ominous tones about how bad the game's financial situation is. Maybe by then it will sound funny again.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
Business Must Be Good
Soriano signs with Cubs for 8 years, $136 million.
Word was that the Cubs were "going for it" in 2007. Word also was that Alfonso Soriano was looking for "Carlos Beltran money."
Well the Cubs are apparently going all out and Soriano has his Beltran money.
Rival GMs will be cursing the Cubs this offseason; the Soriano contract sets a market level that means that many average to slightly above-average free agents will be getting a lot more money this year than they otherwise might have.
But purely in baseball terms . . . is it a good signing?
Having seen the Alfonso Soriano show up close and personal for several years, I want no part of him. The most useful thing he did for the Yankees was get us A-Rod. He remains a tremendously gifted player with zero heart and zero hustle. He'll be 31 at the start of this contract . . . an eight-year deal? I know that these long-term deals are entered intp knowing the team get its money's worth up front and way overpays in the end years. But still . . . six years for $108 million wouldn't have done it?
But looking at it just in baseball terms . . .
This past season -- .277, 46 HRs, 95 RBI in 159 games. Nice home run numbers in a park not conducive to them. But . . . 95 RBI? Even on a bad team he coudn't figure out how to drive in 100? In his six years of playing full time, he's only driven in 100 runs twice, and five of those six years he played on great hitting teams.
And the biggest offensive issue with Soriano: 67 walks and 160 strikeouts. Soriano has the same holes in his swing he had as a rookie years ago. Why any pitcher throws him a fastball, ever, is beyond me. Discipline is a word unknown to him in his approach at the plate.
Defensivley, much was made of Soriano's 22 assists in the outfield this past year. Much less often mentioned is his 11 errors, trailing only Adam Dunn among MLB outfielders last year. Soriano doesn't care about defense and never has.
The rumor I've heard is that the Cubs intend to play Soriano in center field and to bat him leadoff. Those would be two massive mistakes. Hide Soriano in left field, where his defensive deficiencies hurt you the least. And you can't bat Soirano leadoff in a National League lineup -- him hitting 40 solo home runs isn't going to help the team very much overall. I'm assuming the Lou Piniella is smart enough to bat Soriano fourth, or fifth.
Soriano is a deeply flawed player capable of occaisionally astounding things. The Cubs massively overpaid . . . suddenly Jeter's $18 million a year begins to look like a bargain, not to mention the piece of A Rod's salary the Yankees are paying, by comparison.
Word was that the Cubs were "going for it" in 2007. Word also was that Alfonso Soriano was looking for "Carlos Beltran money."
Well the Cubs are apparently going all out and Soriano has his Beltran money.
Rival GMs will be cursing the Cubs this offseason; the Soriano contract sets a market level that means that many average to slightly above-average free agents will be getting a lot more money this year than they otherwise might have.
But purely in baseball terms . . . is it a good signing?
Having seen the Alfonso Soriano show up close and personal for several years, I want no part of him. The most useful thing he did for the Yankees was get us A-Rod. He remains a tremendously gifted player with zero heart and zero hustle. He'll be 31 at the start of this contract . . . an eight-year deal? I know that these long-term deals are entered intp knowing the team get its money's worth up front and way overpays in the end years. But still . . . six years for $108 million wouldn't have done it?
But looking at it just in baseball terms . . .
This past season -- .277, 46 HRs, 95 RBI in 159 games. Nice home run numbers in a park not conducive to them. But . . . 95 RBI? Even on a bad team he coudn't figure out how to drive in 100? In his six years of playing full time, he's only driven in 100 runs twice, and five of those six years he played on great hitting teams.
And the biggest offensive issue with Soriano: 67 walks and 160 strikeouts. Soriano has the same holes in his swing he had as a rookie years ago. Why any pitcher throws him a fastball, ever, is beyond me. Discipline is a word unknown to him in his approach at the plate.
Defensivley, much was made of Soriano's 22 assists in the outfield this past year. Much less often mentioned is his 11 errors, trailing only Adam Dunn among MLB outfielders last year. Soriano doesn't care about defense and never has.
The rumor I've heard is that the Cubs intend to play Soriano in center field and to bat him leadoff. Those would be two massive mistakes. Hide Soriano in left field, where his defensive deficiencies hurt you the least. And you can't bat Soirano leadoff in a National League lineup -- him hitting 40 solo home runs isn't going to help the team very much overall. I'm assuming the Lou Piniella is smart enough to bat Soriano fourth, or fifth.
Soriano is a deeply flawed player capable of occaisionally astounding things. The Cubs massively overpaid . . . suddenly Jeter's $18 million a year begins to look like a bargain, not to mention the piece of A Rod's salary the Yankees are paying, by comparison.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Subway gone; Britton "Eats Fresh"
Wright traded to Orioles for Chris Britton.
Jaret "Subway" Wright was dealt to Baltimore for Chris Britton. By doing so, the Yankees actually save a little money and get something in return for the failed Wright experiment as opposed to simply buying him out of the last year of his contract. Wright will be reunited with Leo Mazzone, with whom, as a Brave, he pitched most successfully.
Britton is 24, six years younger than Wright. He comes off his first season in the bigs having gone 0-2 with one save and a 3.35 ERA in 52 games for a bad team that mailed it in somwhere back in July. Not terrible. Britton should help the bullpen but he will stress the post-game food budget a bit -- the 6' 3" righthander tipped the scales at a Sabathia-like 278 by the end of the 2006 season.
Mets sign El Duque to two-year extension.
I thought this was a bit of an odd move at first, but then I read that the Mets actually save some money on this deal -- El Duque qualifies for Medicare Part B and thus the Mets won't have to provide expensive MLB health benefits for him.
Jaret "Subway" Wright was dealt to Baltimore for Chris Britton. By doing so, the Yankees actually save a little money and get something in return for the failed Wright experiment as opposed to simply buying him out of the last year of his contract. Wright will be reunited with Leo Mazzone, with whom, as a Brave, he pitched most successfully.
Britton is 24, six years younger than Wright. He comes off his first season in the bigs having gone 0-2 with one save and a 3.35 ERA in 52 games for a bad team that mailed it in somwhere back in July. Not terrible. Britton should help the bullpen but he will stress the post-game food budget a bit -- the 6' 3" righthander tipped the scales at a Sabathia-like 278 by the end of the 2006 season.
Mets sign El Duque to two-year extension.
I thought this was a bit of an odd move at first, but then I read that the Mets actually save some money on this deal -- El Duque qualifies for Medicare Part B and thus the Mets won't have to provide expensive MLB health benefits for him.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Let's Try This Again
I had to abandon this blog last season due to time constraints. I'm giving it another go . . . and now, with the off-season soon to heat up, seems a good time.
Yankees trade Sheffield.
Great move. I'm bemused by the talk-radio idiots, who continually rag the Yankees for:
1) Having a bad farm system (demonstrably not true, but that's another post)
2) Having too many older players
3) Having too many stars and not enough role-players
4) Having old and creaky starting pitching
So, the Yankees trade an aging "star" in exhange for three young pitching prospects. One could expect the talk radio goons to be overjoyed, that finally the Yankees are heeding their "wisdom."
Nope. I heard almost nothing but cirticism of the trade on WFAN and ESPN Radio.
The Yankees won 97 games with basically zero from Sheffield last year. He just turned 38, was going to make $13 million, and is prone to taking little vacations for weeks at a time. Those on talk radio who say, apparently with a straight face, that, "Sheffield plays hard every game" apparently didn't watch too many Yankee games. Sheffield gets in a sulk and dogs it badly at those times. Only when he's 1) playing for a new contract, and/or 2) is made to feel like the most important player in the history of the team he's playing for, does he give consistent effort.
It will only take a couple of months and six or seven would-be home runs to fall into outfielder's gloves in cavernous Comerica Park before Sheffield launches one of his personal "job actions." Having signed a two-year extension with Detroit for $28 million for the two years after this coming year, Sheffield has absolutely nothing to play for, knowing that his next time "free" he's 41 years old. Even that cross between Abner Doubleday and Dr. Schweitzer (eyeroll), Jim Leyland, won't be able to turn this sow's ear into a silk purse.
On the Yankees' side of the deal of course it's a risk. Pitching prospects are just that -- prospects. But you have to have four or five, often, to get one winner out of the bunch. And Humberto Sanchez just might be the real deal. And he was raised in the Bronx. Instant star if he can pitch at all on the big-league level.
Sports talk radio is fun to listen to sometimes, but really, it's hard to take seriously.
Carl Pavano Update.
Pavano is um, tanned, rested, and ready. Joe Torre says he's our fourth starter for 2007.
There are a lot of jokes I could make but none of them are as funny as that previous sentence above.
Yankees trade Sheffield.
Great move. I'm bemused by the talk-radio idiots, who continually rag the Yankees for:
1) Having a bad farm system (demonstrably not true, but that's another post)
2) Having too many older players
3) Having too many stars and not enough role-players
4) Having old and creaky starting pitching
So, the Yankees trade an aging "star" in exhange for three young pitching prospects. One could expect the talk radio goons to be overjoyed, that finally the Yankees are heeding their "wisdom."
Nope. I heard almost nothing but cirticism of the trade on WFAN and ESPN Radio.
The Yankees won 97 games with basically zero from Sheffield last year. He just turned 38, was going to make $13 million, and is prone to taking little vacations for weeks at a time. Those on talk radio who say, apparently with a straight face, that, "Sheffield plays hard every game" apparently didn't watch too many Yankee games. Sheffield gets in a sulk and dogs it badly at those times. Only when he's 1) playing for a new contract, and/or 2) is made to feel like the most important player in the history of the team he's playing for, does he give consistent effort.
It will only take a couple of months and six or seven would-be home runs to fall into outfielder's gloves in cavernous Comerica Park before Sheffield launches one of his personal "job actions." Having signed a two-year extension with Detroit for $28 million for the two years after this coming year, Sheffield has absolutely nothing to play for, knowing that his next time "free" he's 41 years old. Even that cross between Abner Doubleday and Dr. Schweitzer (eyeroll), Jim Leyland, won't be able to turn this sow's ear into a silk purse.
On the Yankees' side of the deal of course it's a risk. Pitching prospects are just that -- prospects. But you have to have four or five, often, to get one winner out of the bunch. And Humberto Sanchez just might be the real deal. And he was raised in the Bronx. Instant star if he can pitch at all on the big-league level.
Sports talk radio is fun to listen to sometimes, but really, it's hard to take seriously.
Carl Pavano Update.
Pavano is um, tanned, rested, and ready. Joe Torre says he's our fourth starter for 2007.
There are a lot of jokes I could make but none of them are as funny as that previous sentence above.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
A couple of losses; Sturtze to the DL
A's 6, Yankees 1 (Sunday)
Rangers 4, Yankees 2 (Monday)
A great game by Haren Sunday. Although the Yankees helped out a lot by quickly going into first-pitch swinging mode. At one stretch Haren recorded six outs on something like 15 pitches. It was if Randy giving up the three-spot in the first inning took all the starch out of the team. Which is pretty much inexcusable -- even with no Matsui and no Sheffield, three runs is nothing for this team.
As for Randy, perhaps this time they'll do the MRI on the pitching arm.
Last night, a good start by Mussina. He seemed to get unnerved a little by the pop fly home run, but instead of a classic Mussina meltdown he held it together and pitched seven innings only allowing two runs. Unfortunately, Panic Joe turned to his newest favorite pitcher, Kyle (You Lookin' at Me?) Farnsworth, who promptly coughed up 2 runs in the top of the eighth. The Yankees again seemed demoralized by that and went quickly and quietly in the eighth and ninth innings.
Sturtze goes to see Dr. Andrews
Tanyon Sturtze finally admitted what everyone who watches the Yankees has known since the middle of last year: He's hurt. No. 56 is going to see Dr. James Andrews today to discuss his "slightly torn rotator cuff and bursitis."
How much of an idiot did Sturtze make Torre look like these past months? Joe kept running Strutze out there game after game reagrdless of how poorly he pitched, as though he was in the grip of a complex blackmail scheme the likes of which would make the writers of Law and Order: Criminal Intent envious.
And Torre kept calling Sturtze "a gamer." Um, close. The word ends with "r," but the correct term is "liar."
You don't get just a "sligthly torn rotator cuff." Bursitis is a chronic condition. And if you're going to see Dr. Andrews, it's not to shoot the breeze and talk about you don't need surgery.
The sad part is that in all likelihood Sturtze has made whatever is wrong a lot worse by continuing to pitch. Let's hope that Scott Ericson has a little left in the tank, still.
Dodging the weather
Amazingly, with all the cruddy weather of late, the Yankees have somehow avoided being rained out. Not a big deal, but every little bit might help down the stretch. Boston was rained out twice this past week -- they'll have some doubleheaders to contend with. And is it just Me, so does Boston seemingly play all their games at home, and play all of them against Tampa and Baltimore?
Rangers 4, Yankees 2 (Monday)
A great game by Haren Sunday. Although the Yankees helped out a lot by quickly going into first-pitch swinging mode. At one stretch Haren recorded six outs on something like 15 pitches. It was if Randy giving up the three-spot in the first inning took all the starch out of the team. Which is pretty much inexcusable -- even with no Matsui and no Sheffield, three runs is nothing for this team.
As for Randy, perhaps this time they'll do the MRI on the pitching arm.
Last night, a good start by Mussina. He seemed to get unnerved a little by the pop fly home run, but instead of a classic Mussina meltdown he held it together and pitched seven innings only allowing two runs. Unfortunately, Panic Joe turned to his newest favorite pitcher, Kyle (You Lookin' at Me?) Farnsworth, who promptly coughed up 2 runs in the top of the eighth. The Yankees again seemed demoralized by that and went quickly and quietly in the eighth and ninth innings.
Sturtze goes to see Dr. Andrews
Tanyon Sturtze finally admitted what everyone who watches the Yankees has known since the middle of last year: He's hurt. No. 56 is going to see Dr. James Andrews today to discuss his "slightly torn rotator cuff and bursitis."
How much of an idiot did Sturtze make Torre look like these past months? Joe kept running Strutze out there game after game reagrdless of how poorly he pitched, as though he was in the grip of a complex blackmail scheme the likes of which would make the writers of Law and Order: Criminal Intent envious.
And Torre kept calling Sturtze "a gamer." Um, close. The word ends with "r," but the correct term is "liar."
You don't get just a "sligthly torn rotator cuff." Bursitis is a chronic condition. And if you're going to see Dr. Andrews, it's not to shoot the breeze and talk about you don't need surgery.
The sad part is that in all likelihood Sturtze has made whatever is wrong a lot worse by continuing to pitch. Let's hope that Scott Ericson has a little left in the tank, still.
Dodging the weather
Amazingly, with all the cruddy weather of late, the Yankees have somehow avoided being rained out. Not a big deal, but every little bit might help down the stretch. Boston was rained out twice this past week -- they'll have some doubleheaders to contend with. And is it just Me, so does Boston seemingly play all their games at home, and play all of them against Tampa and Baltimore?
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Wow
Yankees 2, A's 0
The best start of Wang's career. Eight shutout innings. 85 pitches. 20, count 'em, 20, ground ball outs. I felt, especially after Bernie's home run in the bottom of the 8th to make it 2-0, supremely confident that Wang could finish this game. Wow.
But of course he wouldn't.
I knew that Joe was going to being Mariano in to pitch the 9th. And he had not, and something terrible happened, the second-guessing would've been deafening. So, Mariano comes in, and with a little trouble, gets the save. All's right with the world. Err, or maybe not.
1. There seem to be a lot more baserunners agasint Mariano this year than in years past. Is this a slow start, or the very beginning of the inevitable dropoff? Mariano is 36, which isn't necessarily old, but he's been a top closer for a very long time, a lot longer than most stay at that level.
2. Further, at this point, left-handed hitters are batting .303 against him. That's a potenitally very troubling thing, becasue it might mean that his out pitch, that cut fastball that renders lefties typcially helpless, is not as sharp as it once was.
3. Mariano's a victim of Joe's managing and circumstance also. Panic Joe using him on Wednesday night when he didn't really have to resulted in last night being the third night in a row and rendering him unavailble today. (He needs to be unavailable today, regardless of whether he says he can pitch or not.) This is the problem with the "give the closer some work when you wouldn't normally use him" theory. You never know. Statistically, all teams get roughly the same number of save opportunites, so as a rule managers are better off not trying to guess.
But, two sides to every coin. And it's entirely possible that the feel of the cutter isn't quite there yet, so Mariano's throwing more fastballs for now. At 36, perhaps he starts a little slower than he did at a younger age. He's pitching a lot better in May than he did in April. The save opportunities haven't been there so far in big bunches and I'm sure that choppiness isnt overall a good thing for his pitching. It's entirely possible that the Mariano will pitch well as long as he feels like it.
So in the end it's way too early to panic about Mariano. I dearly would love to have seen Wang go for the complete game shutout last night, though.
The best start of Wang's career. Eight shutout innings. 85 pitches. 20, count 'em, 20, ground ball outs. I felt, especially after Bernie's home run in the bottom of the 8th to make it 2-0, supremely confident that Wang could finish this game. Wow.
But of course he wouldn't.
I knew that Joe was going to being Mariano in to pitch the 9th. And he had not, and something terrible happened, the second-guessing would've been deafening. So, Mariano comes in, and with a little trouble, gets the save. All's right with the world. Err, or maybe not.
1. There seem to be a lot more baserunners agasint Mariano this year than in years past. Is this a slow start, or the very beginning of the inevitable dropoff? Mariano is 36, which isn't necessarily old, but he's been a top closer for a very long time, a lot longer than most stay at that level.
2. Further, at this point, left-handed hitters are batting .303 against him. That's a potenitally very troubling thing, becasue it might mean that his out pitch, that cut fastball that renders lefties typcially helpless, is not as sharp as it once was.
3. Mariano's a victim of Joe's managing and circumstance also. Panic Joe using him on Wednesday night when he didn't really have to resulted in last night being the third night in a row and rendering him unavailble today. (He needs to be unavailable today, regardless of whether he says he can pitch or not.) This is the problem with the "give the closer some work when you wouldn't normally use him" theory. You never know. Statistically, all teams get roughly the same number of save opportunites, so as a rule managers are better off not trying to guess.
But, two sides to every coin. And it's entirely possible that the feel of the cutter isn't quite there yet, so Mariano's throwing more fastballs for now. At 36, perhaps he starts a little slower than he did at a younger age. He's pitching a lot better in May than he did in April. The save opportunities haven't been there so far in big bunches and I'm sure that choppiness isnt overall a good thing for his pitching. It's entirely possible that the Mariano will pitch well as long as he feels like it.
So in the end it's way too early to panic about Mariano. I dearly would love to have seen Wang go for the complete game shutout last night, though.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Matsui gone for 3 months; The latest on Pavano
Yankees 7, Red Sox 3 (Wed.)
Red Sox 5, Yankees 3 (Thurs.)
After the exhiliration of Wednesday's win (and the special thrill of taking Schilling deep three times, none of them cheapies), last night's game started out ugly, went very long, and ended badly.
Seeing the Matsui play, I immediately said "if that's not broken it's a miracle." The announcers happy-talking about a sprain I knew was just whistling past the graveyard. Alas it was broken, and no Matusi for at least 3 months. Ugh.
The overall effect really shouldn't be that horrendous. One positive is that Melky gets a chance to show what he can do, and I have the gut feeling that he's ready. This lineup, even without Godzilla, should be able to score plenty. If, and it's a big if, the pitching holds up.
And speaking of pitching, Brian Cashman was on the phone last night with Tampa, checking on the progress of oft-injured starter Carl Pavano with Tampa pitching coach Rich Monteleone.
Cashman: How's Pavano doing?
Monteleone: Oh, he's doing great, Chief. He's got a great tan, really seems to be having a ball down here in Florida. We went to this place last night called "All A-Broad." "A-Broad" -- get it? Great place. They have this girl there, the things she can do with a plunger and a feather boa . . .
Cashman: Um, Rich . . . I meant, how's he doing pitching-wise? We need him back healthy.
Monteleone: Oh. Well . . . he was doing great, Chief, until this morning. He bent over to tie his cleats and felt something in his back. We've shut him down for a couple of days.
Cashman (softly): Christ.
Monteleone (brightly): But we expect him to be throwing off flat ground again by next Tuesday. Maybe next Thrusday. Backs are tricky.
Cashman: Flat ground?!? I thought he was making rehab starts!
Monteleone (confused): Um, he was, Chief. Until he got the paper cut two weeks ago. Then, just as that healed, he stubbed his big toe on some boxes marked "K. Brown --Personal." Have you been reading my e-mails?
Cashman: (banging on his keyboard) E-mails? What E-mails . . . oh . . . crap. They were in the "Junk E-Mail folder."
Monteleone: (laughing) Cool! I'm a spammer!
Cashman: (not laughing) All right. So when do we think he'll back up here pitching again?
Montleleone: (thoughtfully) Hm. Well, we don't want to rush these things, Chief, and I'd hate to give an estimate and then have to change it again, so . . .
Cashman: (impatiently) When the hell will he be ready?
Monteleone: (quietly) August 15th.
Cashman: I give up, I just give up.
(Crashing sounds and screams heard on the phone)
Monteleone: Sorry, Chief, I gotta run. The Fed Ex truck coming to pick up Kevin Brown's boxes just ran over Pavano's foot and then plowed into the box office. I'll write again soon!
Cashman: Yeah, you do that. I got another call coming in anyway.
(Cashman switches lines).
Steinbrenner: Brian, it's George! How's Pavano doing? Think we can get Barry Bonds? How about that A-Rod! I knew my little jab would get results! Do Matsui's consecutive games in Japan count? I've got a trade in mind . . . what do you think of Sheffield and Sean Henn for Albert Pujols? . . . oh, yeah, I almost forgot . . . I have some ideas for new promotions . . .
(Cashman sets the receiver down and walks over to the window, opens it, plugs his ears and sings "Cotton-Eyed Joe" at the top of his lungs.)
Red Sox 5, Yankees 3 (Thurs.)
After the exhiliration of Wednesday's win (and the special thrill of taking Schilling deep three times, none of them cheapies), last night's game started out ugly, went very long, and ended badly.
Seeing the Matsui play, I immediately said "if that's not broken it's a miracle." The announcers happy-talking about a sprain I knew was just whistling past the graveyard. Alas it was broken, and no Matusi for at least 3 months. Ugh.
The overall effect really shouldn't be that horrendous. One positive is that Melky gets a chance to show what he can do, and I have the gut feeling that he's ready. This lineup, even without Godzilla, should be able to score plenty. If, and it's a big if, the pitching holds up.
And speaking of pitching, Brian Cashman was on the phone last night with Tampa, checking on the progress of oft-injured starter Carl Pavano with Tampa pitching coach Rich Monteleone.
Cashman: How's Pavano doing?
Monteleone: Oh, he's doing great, Chief. He's got a great tan, really seems to be having a ball down here in Florida. We went to this place last night called "All A-Broad." "A-Broad" -- get it? Great place. They have this girl there, the things she can do with a plunger and a feather boa . . .
Cashman: Um, Rich . . . I meant, how's he doing pitching-wise? We need him back healthy.
Monteleone: Oh. Well . . . he was doing great, Chief, until this morning. He bent over to tie his cleats and felt something in his back. We've shut him down for a couple of days.
Cashman (softly): Christ.
Monteleone (brightly): But we expect him to be throwing off flat ground again by next Tuesday. Maybe next Thrusday. Backs are tricky.
Cashman: Flat ground?!? I thought he was making rehab starts!
Monteleone (confused): Um, he was, Chief. Until he got the paper cut two weeks ago. Then, just as that healed, he stubbed his big toe on some boxes marked "K. Brown --Personal." Have you been reading my e-mails?
Cashman: (banging on his keyboard) E-mails? What E-mails . . . oh . . . crap. They were in the "Junk E-Mail folder."
Monteleone: (laughing) Cool! I'm a spammer!
Cashman: (not laughing) All right. So when do we think he'll back up here pitching again?
Montleleone: (thoughtfully) Hm. Well, we don't want to rush these things, Chief, and I'd hate to give an estimate and then have to change it again, so . . .
Cashman: (impatiently) When the hell will he be ready?
Monteleone: (quietly) August 15th.
Cashman: I give up, I just give up.
(Crashing sounds and screams heard on the phone)
Monteleone: Sorry, Chief, I gotta run. The Fed Ex truck coming to pick up Kevin Brown's boxes just ran over Pavano's foot and then plowed into the box office. I'll write again soon!
Cashman: Yeah, you do that. I got another call coming in anyway.
(Cashman switches lines).
Steinbrenner: Brian, it's George! How's Pavano doing? Think we can get Barry Bonds? How about that A-Rod! I knew my little jab would get results! Do Matsui's consecutive games in Japan count? I've got a trade in mind . . . what do you think of Sheffield and Sean Henn for Albert Pujols? . . . oh, yeah, I almost forgot . . . I have some ideas for new promotions . . .
(Cashman sets the receiver down and walks over to the window, opens it, plugs his ears and sings "Cotton-Eyed Joe" at the top of his lungs.)
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Ugly game; Ugly developments
Red Sox 14, Yankees 3
A rough night in the Bronx. The Yankee highlight came early when Giambi homered to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. From there it went downhill fast. Randy was horrendous, allowing 7 runs (only 2 earned thanks to a couple of errors, but make no mistake -- Randy got shelled. Almost every ball put in play was a rocket).
[Side note, speaking of errors: Everybody get off Melky's back. First, Sheffield is no Roberto Clemente out there, and second, everyone in the ballpark and the annoucers thought Cano had that popup all the way.]
But it's one game. No biggie. Because it's Boston (gasp! organ music swells ominously) everyone needs to make it a big deal. The much more troubling aspect of last night's loss is . . .
Randy goes for MRI
Randy had an MRI today on his shoulder. Apparently this was the team's idea. Joe Torre and Brian Cashman discussed the results of the MRI ealirer today a physician.
Dr. Goniff: As you asked, I administered an MRI to Mr. Johnson and also gave him a complete physical. The results are not necessarily bad, but somewhat surprising.
Torre: What?
Dr. Goniff: Well, Mr, Johnson is in fairly good physical shape for someone his age. . . .
Cashman: Yeah, we know 42 is old for a pitcher.
Dr. Goniff: (surprised) 42? Mr. Johnson is 74 years old, gentlemen.
Torre and Cashman: What the hell?
Dr. Goniff: Yes. That's my best estimate of his age.
Cashman: (on cell phone) Betty, I need you to pull out a copy of Randy's contract immediately. Look at Section 14.b.1 -- "Breach by Fraud."
Dr. Goniff: Anyway, as I was saying . . . he's in pretty good health, but he really should lose some weight, he probably drinks a litle more than is totally healthy, and his knees are in very bad shape.
Cashman: (still on phone) I'm going to fry this fukcer . . . 74 years old. What does it say in there? Can we recover all the money or just a pro-rated portion?
Torre: Wait a second, Doc. Do me a favor. Can you describe "Mr. Johnson" for me?
Dr. Goniff: (thinking) Hmmmmm, yes. Short, pudgy, very short stubbly white hair, mostly bald on top. Somewhat abrasive personality. Didn't seem to know why he was here. Said a tall guy gave him $500 and carfare to Belmont in exchange for coming to see me.
Torre: (reaching into his wallet and pulling out a picture of Don Zimmer) Is this the guy, Doc?
Dr. Goniff: Yes! That's him!
(Cashman hangs up the phone abruptly)
Torre and Cashman (in unison) FUCK!!!!!
(Cashman dials the phone again)
Torre: Ummmm, thanks, Doc. We've gotta go.
Cashman: (on the phone) I don't care where the hell he is! I want him in my office in ten minutes!
A rough night in the Bronx. The Yankee highlight came early when Giambi homered to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. From there it went downhill fast. Randy was horrendous, allowing 7 runs (only 2 earned thanks to a couple of errors, but make no mistake -- Randy got shelled. Almost every ball put in play was a rocket).
[Side note, speaking of errors: Everybody get off Melky's back. First, Sheffield is no Roberto Clemente out there, and second, everyone in the ballpark and the annoucers thought Cano had that popup all the way.]
But it's one game. No biggie. Because it's Boston (gasp! organ music swells ominously) everyone needs to make it a big deal. The much more troubling aspect of last night's loss is . . .
Randy goes for MRI
Randy had an MRI today on his shoulder. Apparently this was the team's idea. Joe Torre and Brian Cashman discussed the results of the MRI ealirer today a physician.
Dr. Goniff: As you asked, I administered an MRI to Mr. Johnson and also gave him a complete physical. The results are not necessarily bad, but somewhat surprising.
Torre: What?
Dr. Goniff: Well, Mr, Johnson is in fairly good physical shape for someone his age. . . .
Cashman: Yeah, we know 42 is old for a pitcher.
Dr. Goniff: (surprised) 42? Mr. Johnson is 74 years old, gentlemen.
Torre and Cashman: What the hell?
Dr. Goniff: Yes. That's my best estimate of his age.
Cashman: (on cell phone) Betty, I need you to pull out a copy of Randy's contract immediately. Look at Section 14.b.1 -- "Breach by Fraud."
Dr. Goniff: Anyway, as I was saying . . . he's in pretty good health, but he really should lose some weight, he probably drinks a litle more than is totally healthy, and his knees are in very bad shape.
Cashman: (still on phone) I'm going to fry this fukcer . . . 74 years old. What does it say in there? Can we recover all the money or just a pro-rated portion?
Torre: Wait a second, Doc. Do me a favor. Can you describe "Mr. Johnson" for me?
Dr. Goniff: (thinking) Hmmmmm, yes. Short, pudgy, very short stubbly white hair, mostly bald on top. Somewhat abrasive personality. Didn't seem to know why he was here. Said a tall guy gave him $500 and carfare to Belmont in exchange for coming to see me.
Torre: (reaching into his wallet and pulling out a picture of Don Zimmer) Is this the guy, Doc?
Dr. Goniff: Yes! That's him!
(Cashman hangs up the phone abruptly)
Torre and Cashman (in unison) FUCK!!!!!
(Cashman dials the phone again)
Torre: Ummmm, thanks, Doc. We've gotta go.
Cashman: (on the phone) I don't care where the hell he is! I want him in my office in ten minutes!
Monday, May 08, 2006
Sweep! One-month Review
Yankees 6, Rangers 1 (Sat.)
Yankees 8, Rangers 5 (Sun.)
The Yankees completed the sweep yesterday, good outings by Chacon and Wang making Torre's brutal managing Friday night a non-factor. Now it's an off day, and the Boston comes to New York for three games starting tomorrow night.
Three more games vs. Boston of the schedule. Yay. Personally, I wish the Yankees could play the 19 games against Boston and the six vs. the Mets all at once at the beginning of the season, and leave 137 games to concentrate on baseball. But anyway, it should be a fun series. Randy was 5-0 vs Boston last year; he'll have to pick up his game if he's going to continue that dominance Tuesday.
The One-month performance reivew
It's a month and change into the season, so it's a good time to take stock of the Yankees' performance so far.
First, the bottom line: Results. In first place (percentage points ahead of Boston). Recall last year at this time the Yankees were 11-19.
Some stats:
Team BA: .290 (3rd in AL)
Runs: 183 (2nd in AL)
On-base: .388 (1st in AL)
Slugging: .466 (4th in AL)
ERA: 3.76 (2nd in AL)
Fielding pct.: .989 (4th in AL)
DER: .7193 (4th in AL) (DER is an important but often-overlooked stat that tells a lot more than a team's fielding percentage. DER is a measure of the percentage of balls put in play (not including home runs) that a team turns into outs. For the 2005 season the Yankees ranked 10th in this category in the AL.)
And a few stats that are not quite as big a deal, but are important to this particular team.
--Yankees lead the AL in sacrifice bunts.
--Yankees are 5th in stolen bases in the AL.
I mention those last two not becasue I love sacrificing and stealing so much, but becasue last year's team was often criticized for not playing "small ball" when the situation seemed to call for it, being too home-run reliant, too big-inning reliant.
So overall, the hitting is good (and pretty well-distrubuted -- the Yankees scored 8 runs yesterday with nothing from Damon or Jeter). No surprise there -- this team will score plenty of runs. And while it's not necessairly a conscious small ball approach, I do notice the team picking up the "cheap" runs -- the RBI groundouts, etc. And that's a good sign.
The starting pitching has been pretty decent, even with Randy's uneven start. Mussina looks like a young man again, Chacon and Wright have been surprisingly good thus far, and Wang has been good enough, most starts.
The bullpen is . . . OK. Proctor a nice surprise, Mariano still seems to be struggling to find his form. Meyers has been generally good. But please, Joe, please -- the love affair with Sturtze must end, and end now. Does he have pictures of you in some compromising position?
So overall, not a bad first month. Lost a couple they shoudl've won, won a couple they should've lost. It's all good.
Yankees 8, Rangers 5 (Sun.)
The Yankees completed the sweep yesterday, good outings by Chacon and Wang making Torre's brutal managing Friday night a non-factor. Now it's an off day, and the Boston comes to New York for three games starting tomorrow night.
Three more games vs. Boston of the schedule. Yay. Personally, I wish the Yankees could play the 19 games against Boston and the six vs. the Mets all at once at the beginning of the season, and leave 137 games to concentrate on baseball. But anyway, it should be a fun series. Randy was 5-0 vs Boston last year; he'll have to pick up his game if he's going to continue that dominance Tuesday.
The One-month performance reivew
It's a month and change into the season, so it's a good time to take stock of the Yankees' performance so far.
First, the bottom line: Results. In first place (percentage points ahead of Boston). Recall last year at this time the Yankees were 11-19.
Some stats:
Team BA: .290 (3rd in AL)
Runs: 183 (2nd in AL)
On-base: .388 (1st in AL)
Slugging: .466 (4th in AL)
ERA: 3.76 (2nd in AL)
Fielding pct.: .989 (4th in AL)
DER: .7193 (4th in AL) (DER is an important but often-overlooked stat that tells a lot more than a team's fielding percentage. DER is a measure of the percentage of balls put in play (not including home runs) that a team turns into outs. For the 2005 season the Yankees ranked 10th in this category in the AL.)
And a few stats that are not quite as big a deal, but are important to this particular team.
--Yankees lead the AL in sacrifice bunts.
--Yankees are 5th in stolen bases in the AL.
I mention those last two not becasue I love sacrificing and stealing so much, but becasue last year's team was often criticized for not playing "small ball" when the situation seemed to call for it, being too home-run reliant, too big-inning reliant.
So overall, the hitting is good (and pretty well-distrubuted -- the Yankees scored 8 runs yesterday with nothing from Damon or Jeter). No surprise there -- this team will score plenty of runs. And while it's not necessairly a conscious small ball approach, I do notice the team picking up the "cheap" runs -- the RBI groundouts, etc. And that's a good sign.
The starting pitching has been pretty decent, even with Randy's uneven start. Mussina looks like a young man again, Chacon and Wright have been surprisingly good thus far, and Wang has been good enough, most starts.
The bullpen is . . . OK. Proctor a nice surprise, Mariano still seems to be struggling to find his form. Meyers has been generally good. But please, Joe, please -- the love affair with Sturtze must end, and end now. Does he have pictures of you in some compromising position?
So overall, not a bad first month. Lost a couple they shoudl've won, won a couple they should've lost. It's all good.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
The Texas Bullpen Massacre (Almost)
Yankees 8, Rangers 7
A thriller that should never have been. After seven innings, Mussina is cruising. He's leading 8-1, having pitched 7 innings, two hits, 85 pitches. 85.
Mussina gives up a single leading off the 8th. Panic Joe pulls him.
Small comes in. Single. Single. 8-2.
Fielder's choice. One out. 8-3.
Single.
Farnsworth comes in.
Single. Bases loaded.
Strikeout. Two outs.
Walk. 8-4. Tying run to the plate. Having managed the game into a save situation, Panic Joe now can use Maraino. Awesome. In a game that was 8-1 before you decided to pour sugar in the gas tank.
Single. 8-6.
Single. 8-7. 8 to freaking 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HBP. Bases loaded.
Fielder's choice. Inning over. Christ.
Mariano gets through the bottom of the 9th and the Yankees escape with the win.
Normally, I can at least understand a manager's thinking. But Torre's moves here are indefensible.
Mussina doesn't need the extra rest. You've got two more games this weekend against a good-hitting team in a bandbox. When you get a dominating performance out of a starter, ride it. At 85 pitches Mussina might easily have pitched 8 innings, or even (gasp!) a complete game. There's no thought that you might need some length out of your bullpen tonight, or Sunday, or both? Did the leadoff single in the eighth scare you that much? Small needed the work, you think? Trust Me, he'll get it, with two more games against Texas and then Boston coming to town for three starting Tuesday.
A lucky, lucky win.
Chacon and Wang need to provide some length today and Sunday, and the bats need to keep producing. Mariano shouldn't pitch tonight, neither should Farnsworth. Thank goodness Monday's an off day.
A thriller that should never have been. After seven innings, Mussina is cruising. He's leading 8-1, having pitched 7 innings, two hits, 85 pitches. 85.
Mussina gives up a single leading off the 8th. Panic Joe pulls him.
Small comes in. Single. Single. 8-2.
Fielder's choice. One out. 8-3.
Single.
Farnsworth comes in.
Single. Bases loaded.
Strikeout. Two outs.
Walk. 8-4. Tying run to the plate. Having managed the game into a save situation, Panic Joe now can use Maraino. Awesome. In a game that was 8-1 before you decided to pour sugar in the gas tank.
Single. 8-6.
Single. 8-7. 8 to freaking 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HBP. Bases loaded.
Fielder's choice. Inning over. Christ.
Mariano gets through the bottom of the 9th and the Yankees escape with the win.
Normally, I can at least understand a manager's thinking. But Torre's moves here are indefensible.
Mussina doesn't need the extra rest. You've got two more games this weekend against a good-hitting team in a bandbox. When you get a dominating performance out of a starter, ride it. At 85 pitches Mussina might easily have pitched 8 innings, or even (gasp!) a complete game. There's no thought that you might need some length out of your bullpen tonight, or Sunday, or both? Did the leadoff single in the eighth scare you that much? Small needed the work, you think? Trust Me, he'll get it, with two more games against Texas and then Boston coming to town for three starting Tuesday.
A lucky, lucky win.
Chacon and Wang need to provide some length today and Sunday, and the bats need to keep producing. Mariano shouldn't pitch tonight, neither should Farnsworth. Thank goodness Monday's an off day.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Extra Inning Win; Too Many Starters?
Yankees 4, Devil Rays 2 (10)
Another nice start by Wright. Thankfully, the Yankee bats woke up enough, tied it in the middle innings and then won it in the 10th. Farnsworth outstanding again. Mariano seems to have gotten it together after some hiccups early on. Nice to see A-Rod get a hit in a big spot.
But why can't this team score about 19 runs against the likes of Casey Fossum? Casey Freaking Fossum. What the hell happens here? Any bum who puts on a Devil Rays uniform magically is able to pitch well against the Yankees but against no one else? These guys got their 7+ ERAs somewhere.
Shawn Chacon was supposed to pitch Tuesday night in Boston, but got rained out. He got skipped last night in Tampa. Chacon discussed the situation with his manager before yesterday's game.
Chacon: Feeling strong, Skip. I'm going to mow them down tonight.
Torre: Umm . . . Shawn, you're not starting tonight. Jaret is.
Chacon: But it's my turn.
Torre: Err, no. Last night was your turn.
Chacon: We were rained out last night.
Torre: Right.
(uneasy silence)
Chacon: Soooooo . . . am I pitching tomorrow night then?
Torre: No. Tomorrow is Randys turn.
Chacon (scratching head): Oh. Am I pitching Friday night?
Torre (incredulous): Are you kidding? Bump Mussina from his turn? I may be crazy but I'm not stupid.
Chacon: So, um . . . everyone gets to pitch when it's their turn except me?
Torre: You got your turn.
Chacon (expasperated): We were rained out!
Torre: (triumphantly): Yes!!! Finally you've got it!
(At this point ptiching coach Ron Guidry happens by the office)
Guidry: Ready to shine tonight, Shawn?
Chacaon: I'm not pitching tonight, Gator. I'm not sure but it's either Wright, unless there's a freak rainstorm in the Dome tonight, in which case Sean Henn gets called up to pitch Thursday, everyone gets moved back two days, and I'm pencilled in to start on June 11th.
(Chacon stomps out of the office)
Guiudry: I think Chacon should pitch tonight, Skip.
Torre (reaching for the Rolaids): Unnnnngggghhhhhhhh . . .
Another nice start by Wright. Thankfully, the Yankee bats woke up enough, tied it in the middle innings and then won it in the 10th. Farnsworth outstanding again. Mariano seems to have gotten it together after some hiccups early on. Nice to see A-Rod get a hit in a big spot.
But why can't this team score about 19 runs against the likes of Casey Fossum? Casey Freaking Fossum. What the hell happens here? Any bum who puts on a Devil Rays uniform magically is able to pitch well against the Yankees but against no one else? These guys got their 7+ ERAs somewhere.
Shawn Chacon was supposed to pitch Tuesday night in Boston, but got rained out. He got skipped last night in Tampa. Chacon discussed the situation with his manager before yesterday's game.
Chacon: Feeling strong, Skip. I'm going to mow them down tonight.
Torre: Umm . . . Shawn, you're not starting tonight. Jaret is.
Chacon: But it's my turn.
Torre: Err, no. Last night was your turn.
Chacon: We were rained out last night.
Torre: Right.
(uneasy silence)
Chacon: Soooooo . . . am I pitching tomorrow night then?
Torre: No. Tomorrow is Randys turn.
Chacon (scratching head): Oh. Am I pitching Friday night?
Torre (incredulous): Are you kidding? Bump Mussina from his turn? I may be crazy but I'm not stupid.
Chacon: So, um . . . everyone gets to pitch when it's their turn except me?
Torre: You got your turn.
Chacon (expasperated): We were rained out!
Torre: (triumphantly): Yes!!! Finally you've got it!
(At this point ptiching coach Ron Guidry happens by the office)
Guidry: Ready to shine tonight, Shawn?
Chacaon: I'm not pitching tonight, Gator. I'm not sure but it's either Wright, unless there's a freak rainstorm in the Dome tonight, in which case Sean Henn gets called up to pitch Thursday, everyone gets moved back two days, and I'm pencilled in to start on June 11th.
(Chacon stomps out of the office)
Guiudry: I think Chacon should pitch tonight, Skip.
Torre (reaching for the Rolaids): Unnnnngggghhhhhhhh . . .
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Red Sox Win Their Personal World Series; FAN Hosts Indefensible on Defense
Red Sox 7, Yankees 3
Not really much different from what I'd expected. I figured Damon would be a bit tight. Wang was shaky early but settled down pretty nicely. Panic Joe took Small out too soon. Can we please finally settle the question, once and for all -- that Tanyon Sturtze really isn't that good? Torre is in love with this guy for whatever reason. Joe, enough's enough with Sturtze.
Of course it didn't matter in the end since Mike Meyers was no international man of mystery to David Ortiz. That Ortiz homer put it away late and Francona, somewhat oddly I thought, used Papelbon to pitch the 9th with a four run lead.
Tonight's game looks like it might be rained out -- apparently it's been raining in Boston pretty much all day. That wouldn't bother Me in the slightest -- everyone pays entirely too much attention to these Yankee/Red Sox matchups, especially early on. The last few years the two teams have played to a virtual standstill vs. each other in the regular season. This season will be no different.
Memo to Mike and the Mad Dog: Watch the Games!
I happened to hear a little snippet of the Mike and the mad Dog show on WFAN today. And the topic happened to be Francesa and Russo ragging Cano for his bad defense.
Ahem. To anyone who's watched the games so far this year, it's clear that Cano is vastly improved over last year. He worked extensively with Larry Bowa in spring training, and it shows. Cano had a fine game last night in the field, making Mike and the Mad Dog's comments ever more perplexing.
Mike tried to be subsbtantive, citing Cano's "lack of range." It simply isn't so. The reason that Cano doesn't get to some balls towards the middle is becasue he has to cheat the other way a bit to help make up for Giambi's complete lack of range at first. One would think that Mike Francesa would know this.
Russo's comments were just mindless Yankee-bashing . . . "he's a bad second baseman." Garbage from a garbage-mind who feels that it makes for "good radio" when a New York radio host reflexively trashes all New York teams.
But, for those who like numbers . . . Cano's got one error this season so far. A big improvement over last year. His Range Factor is 4th in the AL among second basemen who've played at 180 innings at second base.
To anyone who watches a lot of Yankee games it's easy to see that Cano's markedly improved defensively and getting better.
Mike and Chris (gleefully) also piled on about the team as a whole not being good defensively. Another mystifying comment. OK, 9 errors as a team doesn't tell the whole story, but it's a big improvement.
Posada: Has never been great overall. But this throwing so far has been stellar, throwing out 6 of 13 would-be base-stealers. Has always been good on popups. Not so great at blocking balls in the dirt, and plays at the plate have never been a strong point.
Giamabi: Gets a worse rap than he should. Lacks range and is terrible on popups. Gets nervous when he has to make a throw. But is excellent at picking poor throws out of the dirt. And that's the most important thing a first baseman does defensively.
Cano: Discussed above.
Jeter: Gold Glover.
A Rod: Should've won the Gold Glove last year.
Matsui: Not as good as he's been. Throwing to the wrong base a couple of times is very unlike the Matsui who first joined the Yankees. Seems a lot less confident out there than he used to.
Damon: It's well-documented he's got a crummy arm. But runs down everything out there. This season all ready I've seen him catch at least 7 balls that would've been triples with Bernie playing center.
Sheffield: Has that bad habit of side-saddle catching that he developed when his shoulder was bad, but overall, plays a decent right field when he's motivated. Strong arm.
Overall, this is not a bad defensive team. And anyone who watched them all last year and has watched them so far this year can see the improvement.
Not really much different from what I'd expected. I figured Damon would be a bit tight. Wang was shaky early but settled down pretty nicely. Panic Joe took Small out too soon. Can we please finally settle the question, once and for all -- that Tanyon Sturtze really isn't that good? Torre is in love with this guy for whatever reason. Joe, enough's enough with Sturtze.
Of course it didn't matter in the end since Mike Meyers was no international man of mystery to David Ortiz. That Ortiz homer put it away late and Francona, somewhat oddly I thought, used Papelbon to pitch the 9th with a four run lead.
Tonight's game looks like it might be rained out -- apparently it's been raining in Boston pretty much all day. That wouldn't bother Me in the slightest -- everyone pays entirely too much attention to these Yankee/Red Sox matchups, especially early on. The last few years the two teams have played to a virtual standstill vs. each other in the regular season. This season will be no different.
Memo to Mike and the Mad Dog: Watch the Games!
I happened to hear a little snippet of the Mike and the mad Dog show on WFAN today. And the topic happened to be Francesa and Russo ragging Cano for his bad defense.
Ahem. To anyone who's watched the games so far this year, it's clear that Cano is vastly improved over last year. He worked extensively with Larry Bowa in spring training, and it shows. Cano had a fine game last night in the field, making Mike and the Mad Dog's comments ever more perplexing.
Mike tried to be subsbtantive, citing Cano's "lack of range." It simply isn't so. The reason that Cano doesn't get to some balls towards the middle is becasue he has to cheat the other way a bit to help make up for Giambi's complete lack of range at first. One would think that Mike Francesa would know this.
Russo's comments were just mindless Yankee-bashing . . . "he's a bad second baseman." Garbage from a garbage-mind who feels that it makes for "good radio" when a New York radio host reflexively trashes all New York teams.
But, for those who like numbers . . . Cano's got one error this season so far. A big improvement over last year. His Range Factor is 4th in the AL among second basemen who've played at 180 innings at second base.
To anyone who watches a lot of Yankee games it's easy to see that Cano's markedly improved defensively and getting better.
Mike and Chris (gleefully) also piled on about the team as a whole not being good defensively. Another mystifying comment. OK, 9 errors as a team doesn't tell the whole story, but it's a big improvement.
Posada: Has never been great overall. But this throwing so far has been stellar, throwing out 6 of 13 would-be base-stealers. Has always been good on popups. Not so great at blocking balls in the dirt, and plays at the plate have never been a strong point.
Giamabi: Gets a worse rap than he should. Lacks range and is terrible on popups. Gets nervous when he has to make a throw. But is excellent at picking poor throws out of the dirt. And that's the most important thing a first baseman does defensively.
Cano: Discussed above.
Jeter: Gold Glover.
A Rod: Should've won the Gold Glove last year.
Matsui: Not as good as he's been. Throwing to the wrong base a couple of times is very unlike the Matsui who first joined the Yankees. Seems a lot less confident out there than he used to.
Damon: It's well-documented he's got a crummy arm. But runs down everything out there. This season all ready I've seen him catch at least 7 balls that would've been triples with Bernie playing center.
Sheffield: Has that bad habit of side-saddle catching that he developed when his shoulder was bad, but overall, plays a decent right field when he's motivated. Strong arm.
Overall, this is not a bad defensive team. And anyone who watched them all last year and has watched them so far this year can see the improvement.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Here we go . . .
Yankees 4, Blue Jays 1
Mussina good again, enough offense, and tremendous outings from Farnsworth and Mariano.
Although Mussina wasn't quite as good as the box score might indicate. There seemed to be baserunners all day but Moose always got the crucial outs.
The most interesting aspect of this game was the umpiring, specifically behind the plate. A rookie ump was calling balls and strikes, and, to be chairtable, he was having a tough day. His strike zone seemed to fluctuate from one inning to the next. Amazingly, Mussina, of all people, kept it together. Normally an umpiring job like yesterday's would send Moose right over the edge into a meltdown. And it was no better for Chacin; at least the umpire's missing ball and stirke calls was evernly distributed.
Torre got thrown out, bewtween innings. At one point the Toronto manager had obviously had enough, too, and he got thrown out.
I have no idea if the ump. Adam Dowdy, is in the regular rotation, or is he was filling in for a sick/injured umpire, or what. But he's not likely to forget his Sunday in the Bronx.
Into the belly of the beast
Here we go. Yankees at Red Sox. The first of a two-game series, a little warmup. The big story of course is Damon's return to Boston. I've heard a lot of people speculating about what the reaction of Boston fans will be. I think it's safe to say that the reaction will be loud and overwhelmingly negative. Will there be a smattering of cheers when Damon leads off in the top of the frst and is announced? I imagine there will be; not everyone will be bombed in the top of the first.
Should they boo? Of course not. Damon was an integral part of the first World Championship for the Red Sox in 86 years. It's not like he left for a few hundred thousand dollars more. It was a difference between $40 million over four years and $52 million over four years. That's a lot of money, even for someone making that much. Holier-than-thou fans who claim they woudn't take the $52 million are fooling no one, not even themselves. Plus, Damon played there four years. Not fourteen. He's not from Boston. The Yankees were in fact his third choice, behind Boston and the Dodgers (Damon apparently loved playing for Grady Little, now Dodgers' manager).
But of course Damon will be booed lustily. Damon, for his part, has gone out of his way to praise the Boston fans and speak fondly of his time there. That won't matter tonight at 7:08 when Damon steps into the batter's box, of course.
I would like to think that Yankee fans, in a similar situation, would react a little differently. Being fair, they probably wouldn't. But it will be interesting to see tonight if the Boston fans have at least started to make the transition from the losing to the winning psychology and take a moment to realize, and recognize, what Damon meant to them, and that his appearance in pinstripes is a function of the way baseball works today, and little else.
P. S. The Red Sox finally got tired of not having anyone who can catch a knuckleball and re-obtained Doug Mirabelli today. With our luck Mirabelli will go 4-4 tonight.
Mussina good again, enough offense, and tremendous outings from Farnsworth and Mariano.
Although Mussina wasn't quite as good as the box score might indicate. There seemed to be baserunners all day but Moose always got the crucial outs.
The most interesting aspect of this game was the umpiring, specifically behind the plate. A rookie ump was calling balls and strikes, and, to be chairtable, he was having a tough day. His strike zone seemed to fluctuate from one inning to the next. Amazingly, Mussina, of all people, kept it together. Normally an umpiring job like yesterday's would send Moose right over the edge into a meltdown. And it was no better for Chacin; at least the umpire's missing ball and stirke calls was evernly distributed.
Torre got thrown out, bewtween innings. At one point the Toronto manager had obviously had enough, too, and he got thrown out.
I have no idea if the ump. Adam Dowdy, is in the regular rotation, or is he was filling in for a sick/injured umpire, or what. But he's not likely to forget his Sunday in the Bronx.
Into the belly of the beast
Here we go. Yankees at Red Sox. The first of a two-game series, a little warmup. The big story of course is Damon's return to Boston. I've heard a lot of people speculating about what the reaction of Boston fans will be. I think it's safe to say that the reaction will be loud and overwhelmingly negative. Will there be a smattering of cheers when Damon leads off in the top of the frst and is announced? I imagine there will be; not everyone will be bombed in the top of the first.
Should they boo? Of course not. Damon was an integral part of the first World Championship for the Red Sox in 86 years. It's not like he left for a few hundred thousand dollars more. It was a difference between $40 million over four years and $52 million over four years. That's a lot of money, even for someone making that much. Holier-than-thou fans who claim they woudn't take the $52 million are fooling no one, not even themselves. Plus, Damon played there four years. Not fourteen. He's not from Boston. The Yankees were in fact his third choice, behind Boston and the Dodgers (Damon apparently loved playing for Grady Little, now Dodgers' manager).
But of course Damon will be booed lustily. Damon, for his part, has gone out of his way to praise the Boston fans and speak fondly of his time there. That won't matter tonight at 7:08 when Damon steps into the batter's box, of course.
I would like to think that Yankee fans, in a similar situation, would react a little differently. Being fair, they probably wouldn't. But it will be interesting to see tonight if the Boston fans have at least started to make the transition from the losing to the winning psychology and take a moment to realize, and recognize, what Damon meant to them, and that his appearance in pinstripes is a function of the way baseball works today, and little else.
P. S. The Red Sox finally got tired of not having anyone who can catch a knuckleball and re-obtained Doug Mirabelli today. With our luck Mirabelli will go 4-4 tonight.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Wright not so wrong
Blue Jays 7, Yankees 2
About what I expected, but not the way I expected. After being behind 2-0 after two batters, Wright got it together and with the help of 17 or so double plays, actually had the Yankees in the game until he tired and Proctor gave up a three-run homer that basically put it out of reach.
Meanwhile, Hallady wasn't his Cy Young self but was more than good enough, in conjunction with the bullpen. Somewhat surprisingly, Gibbons used BJ Ryan for a two-inning save. Presumably he's looking at the pitching matchups today and tomorrow and figured last night was a must-win.
And again, what is with the umps this year? Last night, bottom 8, Yankees down 5-2, one out, men on first and third. Bernie Williams grounds one to third . . . they get the out at second and Bernie is clearly safe at first. In live action he looked safe; on the replay his foot is on first and the ball is maybe six inches from the first baseman's glove.
It probably doesn't change the outcome of the game, but suppose, for the sake of argument, the correct call is made. It's 5-3. Maybe in a two-run game, Joe doesn't put Blow-up Strutze in to pitch the 9th and Toronto doesn't tack on. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Oh well. I konw this is supposed to all even out but so far, the Yankees are way behind this season on the "calls evening out" thing.
Stuff happens. Today's another day.
About what I expected, but not the way I expected. After being behind 2-0 after two batters, Wright got it together and with the help of 17 or so double plays, actually had the Yankees in the game until he tired and Proctor gave up a three-run homer that basically put it out of reach.
Meanwhile, Hallady wasn't his Cy Young self but was more than good enough, in conjunction with the bullpen. Somewhat surprisingly, Gibbons used BJ Ryan for a two-inning save. Presumably he's looking at the pitching matchups today and tomorrow and figured last night was a must-win.
And again, what is with the umps this year? Last night, bottom 8, Yankees down 5-2, one out, men on first and third. Bernie Williams grounds one to third . . . they get the out at second and Bernie is clearly safe at first. In live action he looked safe; on the replay his foot is on first and the ball is maybe six inches from the first baseman's glove.
It probably doesn't change the outcome of the game, but suppose, for the sake of argument, the correct call is made. It's 5-3. Maybe in a two-run game, Joe doesn't put Blow-up Strutze in to pitch the 9th and Toronto doesn't tack on. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Oh well. I konw this is supposed to all even out but so far, the Yankees are way behind this season on the "calls evening out" thing.
Stuff happens. Today's another day.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Cosmic Payback; Going cold in Hot-Lanta would be bad
Yankees 4, Devil Rays 1
Baseball, as it always seems to, extracted its cosmic payback on the D-Rays last night. Wednesday, the Yankees got 14 walks, stole four (five?) bases, hit a lot of balls hard, and only get 2 runs in 10 innings. Last night, they get very few walks, get some hits on balls not exactly scorched, and win 4-1.
But that was then and this is now. And now isn't lookng too good. Jaret Wright has gone walk, home run, walk to the first three Blue Jays' hitters. I can't fault Wright too much, much as I'd like to. Wright hasn't pitched since April 15th, My expectations for this start are not the highest.
And there goes baseball again, making an idiot out of me. I no sooner finish typing the previous sentence and Wright gets a double play.
Mets have something to prove
The Mets open a three-game series at Turner Field vs. the Braves tonight. Turner Field has been the Mets' personal house of horrors since it opened; there record there is abysmal (can't be bothered to look it up right now but it's 17-50 or something like that.
Right now, the Mets are significantly better than the Braves. And though it's only April, the Mets can semi-bury the Braves, at least for a little while, with a strong showing in this series. And in the process convince themselves that they really are a good team. Which, and it pains me to say this, they are.
Baseball, as it always seems to, extracted its cosmic payback on the D-Rays last night. Wednesday, the Yankees got 14 walks, stole four (five?) bases, hit a lot of balls hard, and only get 2 runs in 10 innings. Last night, they get very few walks, get some hits on balls not exactly scorched, and win 4-1.
But that was then and this is now. And now isn't lookng too good. Jaret Wright has gone walk, home run, walk to the first three Blue Jays' hitters. I can't fault Wright too much, much as I'd like to. Wright hasn't pitched since April 15th, My expectations for this start are not the highest.
And there goes baseball again, making an idiot out of me. I no sooner finish typing the previous sentence and Wright gets a double play.
Mets have something to prove
The Mets open a three-game series at Turner Field vs. the Braves tonight. Turner Field has been the Mets' personal house of horrors since it opened; there record there is abysmal (can't be bothered to look it up right now but it's 17-50 or something like that.
Right now, the Mets are significantly better than the Braves. And though it's only April, the Mets can semi-bury the Braves, at least for a little while, with a strong showing in this series. And in the process convince themselves that they really are a good team. Which, and it pains me to say this, they are.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
No defense against the base on balls?
Devil Rays 4, Yankees 2 (10 innings)
Yankees hit the trifecta last night:
1. Became the first team since 1954 to be issued 14 walks in a game, scored 2 or fewer runs, and lose.
2. Burned Mariano for two innings and lost the game.
3. Made tonight's series finale against the Devil Rays a much more psychologically important game than it should be.
Fourteen walks! And four stolen bases! Two lousy runs!
I suppose last night's game proves the old saying that every time you watch a baseball game you stand a good chance of seeing something you've never seen before. With this lineup, 14 walks and four steals only amounting to two runs . . . well, before last night I'm sure a bookie in Vegas would've given you 5000-1 odds against it ever happening.
So reluctantly I put last night into the "stuff happens" category. I'd love to be able to bitch about the effort but for the most part the effort was there. (Sheffield's less than blazing dash down the first-base line on the final out of the game was a notable exception.)
Chacon against Hendrickson tonight. Hendrickson beat the Yankees three times least year. So, the Yankees will most likely score 9 runs off him in 2 2/3 innings. Or get totally shut down.
Yankees hit the trifecta last night:
1. Became the first team since 1954 to be issued 14 walks in a game, scored 2 or fewer runs, and lose.
2. Burned Mariano for two innings and lost the game.
3. Made tonight's series finale against the Devil Rays a much more psychologically important game than it should be.
Fourteen walks! And four stolen bases! Two lousy runs!
I suppose last night's game proves the old saying that every time you watch a baseball game you stand a good chance of seeing something you've never seen before. With this lineup, 14 walks and four steals only amounting to two runs . . . well, before last night I'm sure a bookie in Vegas would've given you 5000-1 odds against it ever happening.
So reluctantly I put last night into the "stuff happens" category. I'd love to be able to bitch about the effort but for the most part the effort was there. (Sheffield's less than blazing dash down the first-base line on the final out of the game was a notable exception.)
Chacon against Hendrickson tonight. Hendrickson beat the Yankees three times least year. So, the Yankees will most likely score 9 runs off him in 2 2/3 innings. Or get totally shut down.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Moose Squirrels Away a Win; Where's the beef in the Kazmir-burger?
Yankees 9, Devil Rays 1
A good start in what I see as an important series. Tampa beat New York, if I recall correctly, 11 out of 19 last season. With the East improved this year, winning, let's say, 26 out of the 38 games against TB and Baltimore is important both mathematically and psychologically.
Mussina was sharp but not terribly economical last night, having to come out having faced one batter in the seventh and having thrown 100 pitches. But all's well that ends well . . . Strutze actually didn't blow up, we tacked a few more late, and I didn't have to curse and scream at my TV, as I always do when Panic Joe has Mariano start warming up in the 8th with a 5-run lead.
Jeter had a home run last night and went 3-5. He's at .391, with 3 HRs and 18 RBI. (And an OPS of 1.175 for all you new-wave stat types.) Phenominal start. And while he did have better numbers as a leadoff man than Damon did, I knew that returning Jeter to the 2 spot in the order would be good for him and for the team. And Jeter's RBI numbers are with Damon off to an OK but hardly inspiring start (.284 BA, .360 OBP).
And, while we're on the subject of last night's game, what's all the fuss about Scott Kazmir? Here in the New York area, the media is obsessed with Kazmir, since he was drafted by the Mets and traded in 2004 mid-season when the Mets thought they had a shot at the playoffs. They got Victor Zambrano in exchange for the then-prospect, and Zambrano has been singularly unimpressive since joining the Mets (10-14 with a not very good ERA the gory details are here). New York writers and talk-radio hosts love to pound on the Mets every time Zambrano gets bombed but stays in the rotation. And the thinking is that the Mets are embarrassed to have traded Kazmir for this guy and thus are going to treat him like a good pitcher regardless of how poorly he actually pitches.
But really, other than being young, throwing hard, and being left-handed, what's so great about Kazmir? For his career, he's 14-14, 4.09. Very average. Walks a ton of guys. Always seems to be in the fifth inning when the 100 pitch mark comes. OK, he's young (turned 22 a few months ago). But so far, with Kazmir, there's no "there" there. Other than pitching well (usually) against the Red Sox, there isn't much to recommend this "phenom." Tampa may have ruined his career by rushing him up to the majors . . . time will tell. For now, despite Zambrano's struggles, the Mets don't have much to be embarrassed about.
Tonight it's Wang vs. Seth McClung. I still believe that Wang's shoulder is bothering him, so if this game degenerates into a classic NY-Tampa 15-11 deal it won't surprise me. I just hope the Yankees are on the plus end of it.
Set Your TiVo!
Friday night it's The Yankees and Blue Jays. Jaret Wright against Roy Halladay. The folks at YES I'm sure already are thinking this one is going to be an "Instant Classic." Don't use the bullpen too much between now and Friday, Joe. I expect you will have to piece together 5 2/3 innings out of the pen Friday night.
A good start in what I see as an important series. Tampa beat New York, if I recall correctly, 11 out of 19 last season. With the East improved this year, winning, let's say, 26 out of the 38 games against TB and Baltimore is important both mathematically and psychologically.
Mussina was sharp but not terribly economical last night, having to come out having faced one batter in the seventh and having thrown 100 pitches. But all's well that ends well . . . Strutze actually didn't blow up, we tacked a few more late, and I didn't have to curse and scream at my TV, as I always do when Panic Joe has Mariano start warming up in the 8th with a 5-run lead.
Jeter had a home run last night and went 3-5. He's at .391, with 3 HRs and 18 RBI. (And an OPS of 1.175 for all you new-wave stat types.) Phenominal start. And while he did have better numbers as a leadoff man than Damon did, I knew that returning Jeter to the 2 spot in the order would be good for him and for the team. And Jeter's RBI numbers are with Damon off to an OK but hardly inspiring start (.284 BA, .360 OBP).
And, while we're on the subject of last night's game, what's all the fuss about Scott Kazmir? Here in the New York area, the media is obsessed with Kazmir, since he was drafted by the Mets and traded in 2004 mid-season when the Mets thought they had a shot at the playoffs. They got Victor Zambrano in exchange for the then-prospect, and Zambrano has been singularly unimpressive since joining the Mets (10-14 with a not very good ERA the gory details are here). New York writers and talk-radio hosts love to pound on the Mets every time Zambrano gets bombed but stays in the rotation. And the thinking is that the Mets are embarrassed to have traded Kazmir for this guy and thus are going to treat him like a good pitcher regardless of how poorly he actually pitches.
But really, other than being young, throwing hard, and being left-handed, what's so great about Kazmir? For his career, he's 14-14, 4.09. Very average. Walks a ton of guys. Always seems to be in the fifth inning when the 100 pitch mark comes. OK, he's young (turned 22 a few months ago). But so far, with Kazmir, there's no "there" there. Other than pitching well (usually) against the Red Sox, there isn't much to recommend this "phenom." Tampa may have ruined his career by rushing him up to the majors . . . time will tell. For now, despite Zambrano's struggles, the Mets don't have much to be embarrassed about.
Tonight it's Wang vs. Seth McClung. I still believe that Wang's shoulder is bothering him, so if this game degenerates into a classic NY-Tampa 15-11 deal it won't surprise me. I just hope the Yankees are on the plus end of it.
Set Your TiVo!
Friday night it's The Yankees and Blue Jays. Jaret Wright against Roy Halladay. The folks at YES I'm sure already are thinking this one is going to be an "Instant Classic." Don't use the bullpen too much between now and Friday, Joe. I expect you will have to piece together 5 2/3 innings out of the pen Friday night.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
The Restoration of Sanity
Yankees 6, Orioles 1
Yankees 7, Orioles 1
Amazing what a little pitching will do. I saw Saturday's game. Today's, I'm relying on the box score.
Chacon apparently remembered how to pitch and shut down a pretty good-hitting Orioles team. The offense did more than enough and it was a nice routine win over a team we should beat regularly (I see the Orioles finishing last in the East this season).
Today, Randy must've been totally un-stiff. 8 innings, 3 hits, 1 run. 94 pitches. Could I'm sure have pitched the 9th but Mariano needed the work. In fact, aside from Tejada (4-4) the Orioles were no-hit today.
Two homers for Giambi and 5 RBI. One I heard was an absolute bomb into the upper deck. I'll have to hold my nose and watch Baseball Tonight to see if I can catch the replays of the home runs.
An off day tomrorow (it feels like the Yankees have had about 17 off days already this season) and then Tampa comes to town. A large part of the Yankees having to take down to the final series of the season was becasue of their ineffective play against Tampa Bay last year. Psychologically, I think it's important for the Yankees to make a little statement against the Rays early on.
Mussina pitches Tuesday. Moose and Joe discussed the upcoming start prior to today's game.
Mussina: Skip, if it's OK I'd like to fly down to Tampa today so I'm ready and rested to pitch Tuesday night.
Torre: Err, Mike. The game Tuesday night is at home.
Mussina: Damn!
Torre: What's wrong?
Mussina: This is not good, Skip. My biorhythms, my horoscope, and my personal brain-wave meter all indicate that Tuesday is an ideal day for me to pitch in Tampa.
Torre: Ummmmm . . .
Mussina: (whispering) Plus I odn't like pitching at home. There's an usher in Section 11 who is sending me subliminal messages from Bill Gates telling me that I have to kill every 17th person who asks me for an autograph.
Torre: Ahhhhhhhhh . . . ummmmmm . . .
(Mussina at this point drops a 2 for 1 drink ticket from Big Melons Gentleman's Club in Tampa.)
Torre: Mike, I really can't do anything about the schedule . . . it's . . .
(The phone rings)
Torre: Thank God! . . . I mean, hello?
(Torre covers the mouthpiece) Mike, I've got to take this. it's George wanting to know why Jeter's only hitting .375 and if Proctor is still eiligble for Rookie of the Year.
Mussina: (Leaving the office, picking up the ticket, grumbling) Great, just fucking great. How am I supposed to pitch in New York when I'm supposed to pitch in Tampa? 2 innings, 7 runs, here we come . . . hmmmm . . . I wonder if this thing has an expiration date . . .
Yankees 7, Orioles 1
Amazing what a little pitching will do. I saw Saturday's game. Today's, I'm relying on the box score.
Chacon apparently remembered how to pitch and shut down a pretty good-hitting Orioles team. The offense did more than enough and it was a nice routine win over a team we should beat regularly (I see the Orioles finishing last in the East this season).
Today, Randy must've been totally un-stiff. 8 innings, 3 hits, 1 run. 94 pitches. Could I'm sure have pitched the 9th but Mariano needed the work. In fact, aside from Tejada (4-4) the Orioles were no-hit today.
Two homers for Giambi and 5 RBI. One I heard was an absolute bomb into the upper deck. I'll have to hold my nose and watch Baseball Tonight to see if I can catch the replays of the home runs.
An off day tomrorow (it feels like the Yankees have had about 17 off days already this season) and then Tampa comes to town. A large part of the Yankees having to take down to the final series of the season was becasue of their ineffective play against Tampa Bay last year. Psychologically, I think it's important for the Yankees to make a little statement against the Rays early on.
Mussina pitches Tuesday. Moose and Joe discussed the upcoming start prior to today's game.
Mussina: Skip, if it's OK I'd like to fly down to Tampa today so I'm ready and rested to pitch Tuesday night.
Torre: Err, Mike. The game Tuesday night is at home.
Mussina: Damn!
Torre: What's wrong?
Mussina: This is not good, Skip. My biorhythms, my horoscope, and my personal brain-wave meter all indicate that Tuesday is an ideal day for me to pitch in Tampa.
Torre: Ummmmm . . .
Mussina: (whispering) Plus I odn't like pitching at home. There's an usher in Section 11 who is sending me subliminal messages from Bill Gates telling me that I have to kill every 17th person who asks me for an autograph.
Torre: Ahhhhhhhhh . . . ummmmmm . . .
(Mussina at this point drops a 2 for 1 drink ticket from Big Melons Gentleman's Club in Tampa.)
Torre: Mike, I really can't do anything about the schedule . . . it's . . .
(The phone rings)
Torre: Thank God! . . . I mean, hello?
(Torre covers the mouthpiece) Mike, I've got to take this. it's George wanting to know why Jeter's only hitting .375 and if Proctor is still eiligble for Rookie of the Year.
Mussina: (Leaving the office, picking up the ticket, grumbling) Great, just fucking great. How am I supposed to pitch in New York when I'm supposed to pitch in Tampa? 2 innings, 7 runs, here we come . . . hmmmm . . . I wonder if this thing has an expiration date . . .
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Arghh . . . Umps . . . Bud . . .
Orioles 6, Yankees 5
A brutal loss, especially with the prospect of two rainouts coming up. I hate to say it but I think Wang's shoulder is bothering him. Last night, for two innings he's unhittable, ground ball after ground ball. In the third, he loses the strike zone, loses the sinker, and it pretty much goes downhill from there. Apparently Wang's been working with Guidry on maintaining his arm angle. When his arm drops, the sinker doesn't sink. I'm thinking that the shoulder is bad again and that it hurts to maintain the proper arm angle. I hope I'm wrong, becasue losing Wang is something we can't afford. But if he's going to be ineffective . . .
I hate to talk about umpiring but I have to. In the third, the batter was out at first on the Jeter jump-throw play. Two runs scored on that play, three in the inning. With the proper call there no runs score. OK, it was a bang-bang play, and the batter made it closer than it should have been with the silly head-first slide into first. (When will these idiots figure out that that slows you down????) But still, bad call.
More infiuriating was the Matsui at-bat that ended the game. Down 6-5, bottom 9, bases loaded. The catcher pulls the 2-1 pitch down a good six inches. Called a strike. That's high-school stuff, pulling a pitch down that far. These "professional" umps can't see that? Then, on 3-2, Matsui is called out on a pitch that well, was pretty close but was a ball. Matsui gets thrown five balls , swings at none of them, and gets called out on strikes. Wonderful. Should Matsui have swung at that 3-2 pitch? Probably, but that doesn't alter the fact that the quality of umpiring started to decline badly last year and the slide continues this year. Already in Yankee games I've watched this season I've seen at last 10 egregiously bad calls in important situations. One can only hope they even out over time.
Overall, since Sandy Alderson left the MLB front office, the umpires have slowly reverted to their old ways. The "personal strike zone." The terrible positioning. The "I've got dinner plans" strike calls. I can't believe that Selig deosn't see that he needs to find a new Rotweiler to bring the umps back in line.
Selig to step down . . . in 2009!
This one just cracks me up. Can Selig/MLB do anything right, ever? Selig announces he's going to retire . . . three years from now? What the hell?
Are we to believe that the search process is going to take three years? Three years to find another shill for the owners? How about three weeks? I'm sure the owners already have a good list of potential lackeys lined up.
I can only assume that Bud wants the three years to help put a little time between himself and Barry Bonds, to clean up his legacy a bit. Sorry, Bud, but your legacy is pretty well set. You will be remembered forever as the Commissioner who:
1. Shook the pom-poms while drug abusers made a mockery of some of the most cherished records in the game.
2. Belatedly decides to "investigate" the steroids issue, but appoints perhaps the most conflicted person he could possibly think of to run said investigation.
3. Handed over control of playoff scheduling to Fox, thereby guaranteeing that no one under the age of 14 will ever see a World Series game beyond the fourth inning.
4. Abandoned all pretext of the Commissioner working on the behalf of the game, and gleefully embraced the idea of Commissioner as the owners' butt-boy.
5. Allowed greedy owners to simply pocket so-called "revenue-sharing" money while running their franchises into the ground. The Florida Marlins could draw ZERO fans this year and still make a profit.
6. Established the bogus World Baseball Classic.
The owners should just admit it's a farce and hire Donald Trump as the next Commissioner.
At least his hair is entertaining. And he might fire some people on national TV.
A brutal loss, especially with the prospect of two rainouts coming up. I hate to say it but I think Wang's shoulder is bothering him. Last night, for two innings he's unhittable, ground ball after ground ball. In the third, he loses the strike zone, loses the sinker, and it pretty much goes downhill from there. Apparently Wang's been working with Guidry on maintaining his arm angle. When his arm drops, the sinker doesn't sink. I'm thinking that the shoulder is bad again and that it hurts to maintain the proper arm angle. I hope I'm wrong, becasue losing Wang is something we can't afford. But if he's going to be ineffective . . .
I hate to talk about umpiring but I have to. In the third, the batter was out at first on the Jeter jump-throw play. Two runs scored on that play, three in the inning. With the proper call there no runs score. OK, it was a bang-bang play, and the batter made it closer than it should have been with the silly head-first slide into first. (When will these idiots figure out that that slows you down????) But still, bad call.
More infiuriating was the Matsui at-bat that ended the game. Down 6-5, bottom 9, bases loaded. The catcher pulls the 2-1 pitch down a good six inches. Called a strike. That's high-school stuff, pulling a pitch down that far. These "professional" umps can't see that? Then, on 3-2, Matsui is called out on a pitch that well, was pretty close but was a ball. Matsui gets thrown five balls , swings at none of them, and gets called out on strikes. Wonderful. Should Matsui have swung at that 3-2 pitch? Probably, but that doesn't alter the fact that the quality of umpiring started to decline badly last year and the slide continues this year. Already in Yankee games I've watched this season I've seen at last 10 egregiously bad calls in important situations. One can only hope they even out over time.
Overall, since Sandy Alderson left the MLB front office, the umpires have slowly reverted to their old ways. The "personal strike zone." The terrible positioning. The "I've got dinner plans" strike calls. I can't believe that Selig deosn't see that he needs to find a new Rotweiler to bring the umps back in line.
Selig to step down . . . in 2009!
This one just cracks me up. Can Selig/MLB do anything right, ever? Selig announces he's going to retire . . . three years from now? What the hell?
Are we to believe that the search process is going to take three years? Three years to find another shill for the owners? How about three weeks? I'm sure the owners already have a good list of potential lackeys lined up.
I can only assume that Bud wants the three years to help put a little time between himself and Barry Bonds, to clean up his legacy a bit. Sorry, Bud, but your legacy is pretty well set. You will be remembered forever as the Commissioner who:
1. Shook the pom-poms while drug abusers made a mockery of some of the most cherished records in the game.
2. Belatedly decides to "investigate" the steroids issue, but appoints perhaps the most conflicted person he could possibly think of to run said investigation.
3. Handed over control of playoff scheduling to Fox, thereby guaranteeing that no one under the age of 14 will ever see a World Series game beyond the fourth inning.
4. Abandoned all pretext of the Commissioner working on the behalf of the game, and gleefully embraced the idea of Commissioner as the owners' butt-boy.
5. Allowed greedy owners to simply pocket so-called "revenue-sharing" money while running their franchises into the ground. The Florida Marlins could draw ZERO fans this year and still make a profit.
6. Established the bogus World Baseball Classic.
The owners should just admit it's a farce and hire Donald Trump as the next Commissioner.
At least his hair is entertaining. And he might fire some people on national TV.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The Best Team in the Universe?
Birds Crap on Cleveland's Windshield Again
Baltimore beat Cleveland again today, 9-4. Last night it was 18-9. Cleveland held the O's to a tidy 32 hits in 16 innings.
Did any of these so-called experts who predicted that Cleveland would win, I don't know, 130 games and sweep the playoffs and World Series, look at Cleveland's pitching staff at all?
Honestly, should this rotation scare any opposing team?
Jake Westbrook: Has shown flashes, but really has never been that good. For his career, 43-45, 4.46. Chews up innings but to what availe? Besides, everyone knows all the good ex-Yankee pitchers are on the White Sox.
Cliff Lee: A solid starter. 20-game winner potential.
Jason Johnson: 54-86 with an ERA approaching 5 for his career.
Paul Byrd: 74-65, 4.27 for his career (much of that in the NL). Journeyman. Another guy who gives you innings but is a .500 pitcher. And he looks like your creepy "uncle" your mother warned you too stay away from. 9 teams in 11 years.
Fausto Carmona: Too early to tell, of course. Could end up being very good. Had one good start his first time out, got torched today.
In the bullpen, Cleveland has some weapons. Wickman, Sauerbeck, Mota. Betancourt has been pretty decent in years past, is off to a bad start. Rafael Perez, too soon to tell. But, um . . . Danny Graves? Danny Graves? (He beat out Steve Karsay (ROFL!) in spring training, I guess.)
I don't see this team unseating the White Sox or beating out Boston or the Yankees for the wild card without a serious improvement in the pitching staff. They subtracted Milwood and added Byrd, not an even trade. I know that Sabathia is hurt, but how good is he, really? For his career he's 24 games over .500, but half of those 24 came in 2001, when he was 17-5. 2001 is a long time ago. Since then he's 52-40, with an ERA in the 4s. A pretty average pitcher. And could the Indians come clean about his weight? He's listed at 290. CC's a biscuit away from 320, at least.
From the Future News File
December 19, 2017 -- The New York Mets accounced that they had re-signed 42-year-old Victor Zambrano to a one-year deal. Terms were not disclosed.
Observers were surpised that Zambrano was retained, having gone 2-19 with a 7.79 ERA in the recently-completed 2017 season. Mets GM Omar Minaya denied that the signing had anything to do with the fact that Bill Kazmir won his 250th game on the final day of the season and led the Devil Rays to their third consecutive World Series title and sixth in 9 years.
"I talked it over with Joe (Mets manager Joe Torre) and Mel (pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre) and they agree with me that Victor still has a lot of life in that arm and that he can help us a lot in 2018."
Baltimore beat Cleveland again today, 9-4. Last night it was 18-9. Cleveland held the O's to a tidy 32 hits in 16 innings.
Did any of these so-called experts who predicted that Cleveland would win, I don't know, 130 games and sweep the playoffs and World Series, look at Cleveland's pitching staff at all?
Honestly, should this rotation scare any opposing team?
Jake Westbrook: Has shown flashes, but really has never been that good. For his career, 43-45, 4.46. Chews up innings but to what availe? Besides, everyone knows all the good ex-Yankee pitchers are on the White Sox.
Cliff Lee: A solid starter. 20-game winner potential.
Jason Johnson: 54-86 with an ERA approaching 5 for his career.
Paul Byrd: 74-65, 4.27 for his career (much of that in the NL). Journeyman. Another guy who gives you innings but is a .500 pitcher. And he looks like your creepy "uncle" your mother warned you too stay away from. 9 teams in 11 years.
Fausto Carmona: Too early to tell, of course. Could end up being very good. Had one good start his first time out, got torched today.
In the bullpen, Cleveland has some weapons. Wickman, Sauerbeck, Mota. Betancourt has been pretty decent in years past, is off to a bad start. Rafael Perez, too soon to tell. But, um . . . Danny Graves? Danny Graves? (He beat out Steve Karsay (ROFL!) in spring training, I guess.)
I don't see this team unseating the White Sox or beating out Boston or the Yankees for the wild card without a serious improvement in the pitching staff. They subtracted Milwood and added Byrd, not an even trade. I know that Sabathia is hurt, but how good is he, really? For his career he's 24 games over .500, but half of those 24 came in 2001, when he was 17-5. 2001 is a long time ago. Since then he's 52-40, with an ERA in the 4s. A pretty average pitcher. And could the Indians come clean about his weight? He's listed at 290. CC's a biscuit away from 320, at least.
From the Future News File
December 19, 2017 -- The New York Mets accounced that they had re-signed 42-year-old Victor Zambrano to a one-year deal. Terms were not disclosed.
Observers were surpised that Zambrano was retained, having gone 2-19 with a 7.79 ERA in the recently-completed 2017 season. Mets GM Omar Minaya denied that the signing had anything to do with the fact that Bill Kazmir won his 250th game on the final day of the season and led the Devil Rays to their third consecutive World Series title and sixth in 9 years.
"I talked it over with Joe (Mets manager Joe Torre) and Mel (pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre) and they agree with me that Victor still has a lot of life in that arm and that he can help us a lot in 2018."
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Strong Moose Picks Up for Stiff Unit
Blue Jays 10, Yankees 5
I could say a lot about this game, but I think I'm better off forgetting it entirely. Other than to say how the hell do you send your "ace" to the mound with a 4-run lead and lose 10-5? Randy must've been a lot more stiff than anyone realized.
Yankees 3, Blue Jays 1
Strong effort by Mussina today. Enough hitting, nice work by Farnsworth and Rivera.
Braves take 2 of 3 from Mets
The Braves, with no Chipper, do what they usually do against the Mets. The Mets need to dump that hideous song before their good start goes completely down the tubes. Oh, and three errors by David (The Best Player Ever, Just Ask Any Met Fan) Wright.
I could say a lot about this game, but I think I'm better off forgetting it entirely. Other than to say how the hell do you send your "ace" to the mound with a 4-run lead and lose 10-5? Randy must've been a lot more stiff than anyone realized.
Yankees 3, Blue Jays 1
Strong effort by Mussina today. Enough hitting, nice work by Farnsworth and Rivera.
Braves take 2 of 3 from Mets
The Braves, with no Chipper, do what they usually do against the Mets. The Mets need to dump that hideous song before their good start goes completely down the tubes. Oh, and three errors by David (The Best Player Ever, Just Ask Any Met Fan) Wright.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Stuff Happens . . . Happy Easter (so far)
Twins 6, Yankees 5
A nice comeback from 4-0 down to take a 5-4 lead. Farnswroth gets an out in the 8th, then allows a baserunner. I didn't want to see it, but I knew it was coming. Mariano being brought in to try to get the 5-out save.
Mariano gets out of the 8th. As I knew he would. Where these more and one-inning saves get tricky is in the subsequent inning, after the closer's had to sit on the bench for the top of the 9th.
In that top of the 9th, the Yankees fail to tack on. I'm hating this game more and more with each passing second.
In the bottom of the 9th, Castillo leads off with a 15-foot nubber that he beats out. (After looking at what I was sure was strike 3). Man on first, nobody out.
Mauer singles to left (after looking at two very possible third strikes). Matsui, unaccountably, tries to get Castillo at third rather than throwing it to second. Mauer moves up trailing the play -- men on second and third with no outs. The Twins can tie it by accident now and in fact win it by making two of the right kind of outs. I can barely watch at this point.
Mariano bears down and strikes out the next guy. Yes!
Mariano strikes out the next guy, too. All right! Might we actually pull this one out?
Alas, it was not to be. Morneau breaks his bat and places one through the right side of the infield. Ballgame. One hard-hit ball and one mental lapse in left field. Three ball/strike calls, any one of which going the other way wins us the game. Two runs. Brutal loss.
But stuff happens. My only quibbles are not doing more against Santana -- it's obivous that at this point he has no feel for the changeup and he's basically guessing where it's going when he throws it.
And I have always hated the one-inning-plus saves. I can't fault Joe too much last night, though. Farnsworth is not to be trusted (yet) with a one-run lead, and when you have Mariano there it's pretty hard not to bring him in.
Longer term, I do see a potentially bad effect, though. The 7th- and 8th-inning guys at some ponit are going to have to pitch with men on base. Should they really be in the mindset that the instant they allow a baserunner they're going to be yanked?
Yankees 9, Twins 2 (top 7th as I write this)
Two bombs by Giambi, Cano sneaks one around the left-field foul pole, and A-Rod unloads just now. We always hit Radke pretty well. Wang has gotten through 6 innings only alloowing the 2 runs. Presumably the Gang Who Can't Throw Straight can piece together the finall innings and at least we leave Minnesota (next to Florida and Tampa Bay, the worst stadium in MLB?) with a win. Off tomorrow, then two in Toronto against the new-look Blue Jays up at Skydome.
Joe and Randy discussed Randy's upcomng start in Toronto Tuesday:
Joe: You're good to go for Tuesday?
Randy: Yes. If I'm not stiff.
Joe: You're still stiff?
Randy: No.
Joe: Oh. OK, good.
Randy: But I might get stiff between now and Tuesday.
Joe: Oh. Well, would you rather start Wednesday instead of Tuesday?
Randy: No. I might feel good Teusday and then be stiff Wednesday.
(Posada peeks his head into Joe's office)
Posada: Hey guys. Can I catch Randy on Tuesday? Please?
Joe and Randy, in unsion: NO!!!!
(A reporter from the Daily News happens by)
Reporter: Posada is catching Randy on Tuesday?
Joe, Randy, and Posada, in unison: NO!!!!!
Posada: Randy's still stiff, anwyay
(Reporter scribbling furiously in his noteboook)
Reporter: Ohhhhhhh. Who's pitching Tuesday then, Joe?
Joe: (annoyed) Randy is, damn it!
Randy: (quietly) If I'm not stiff.
(Joe gets up and slams the office door)
Reporter: (to Posada as they walk away) Don't you think Joe looks kinda like a retard with his hat barely sitting on top of his head like that?
Posada: No comment. Wait. Fuck that, yes he does. Mariano blew the save last night becasue he couldn't stop lauhging at Joe's hat.
A nice comeback from 4-0 down to take a 5-4 lead. Farnswroth gets an out in the 8th, then allows a baserunner. I didn't want to see it, but I knew it was coming. Mariano being brought in to try to get the 5-out save.
Mariano gets out of the 8th. As I knew he would. Where these more and one-inning saves get tricky is in the subsequent inning, after the closer's had to sit on the bench for the top of the 9th.
In that top of the 9th, the Yankees fail to tack on. I'm hating this game more and more with each passing second.
In the bottom of the 9th, Castillo leads off with a 15-foot nubber that he beats out. (After looking at what I was sure was strike 3). Man on first, nobody out.
Mauer singles to left (after looking at two very possible third strikes). Matsui, unaccountably, tries to get Castillo at third rather than throwing it to second. Mauer moves up trailing the play -- men on second and third with no outs. The Twins can tie it by accident now and in fact win it by making two of the right kind of outs. I can barely watch at this point.
Mariano bears down and strikes out the next guy. Yes!
Mariano strikes out the next guy, too. All right! Might we actually pull this one out?
Alas, it was not to be. Morneau breaks his bat and places one through the right side of the infield. Ballgame. One hard-hit ball and one mental lapse in left field. Three ball/strike calls, any one of which going the other way wins us the game. Two runs. Brutal loss.
But stuff happens. My only quibbles are not doing more against Santana -- it's obivous that at this point he has no feel for the changeup and he's basically guessing where it's going when he throws it.
And I have always hated the one-inning-plus saves. I can't fault Joe too much last night, though. Farnsworth is not to be trusted (yet) with a one-run lead, and when you have Mariano there it's pretty hard not to bring him in.
Longer term, I do see a potentially bad effect, though. The 7th- and 8th-inning guys at some ponit are going to have to pitch with men on base. Should they really be in the mindset that the instant they allow a baserunner they're going to be yanked?
Yankees 9, Twins 2 (top 7th as I write this)
Two bombs by Giambi, Cano sneaks one around the left-field foul pole, and A-Rod unloads just now. We always hit Radke pretty well. Wang has gotten through 6 innings only alloowing the 2 runs. Presumably the Gang Who Can't Throw Straight can piece together the finall innings and at least we leave Minnesota (next to Florida and Tampa Bay, the worst stadium in MLB?) with a win. Off tomorrow, then two in Toronto against the new-look Blue Jays up at Skydome.
Joe and Randy discussed Randy's upcomng start in Toronto Tuesday:
Joe: You're good to go for Tuesday?
Randy: Yes. If I'm not stiff.
Joe: You're still stiff?
Randy: No.
Joe: Oh. OK, good.
Randy: But I might get stiff between now and Tuesday.
Joe: Oh. Well, would you rather start Wednesday instead of Tuesday?
Randy: No. I might feel good Teusday and then be stiff Wednesday.
(Posada peeks his head into Joe's office)
Posada: Hey guys. Can I catch Randy on Tuesday? Please?
Joe and Randy, in unsion: NO!!!!
(A reporter from the Daily News happens by)
Reporter: Posada is catching Randy on Tuesday?
Joe, Randy, and Posada, in unison: NO!!!!!
Posada: Randy's still stiff, anwyay
(Reporter scribbling furiously in his noteboook)
Reporter: Ohhhhhhh. Who's pitching Tuesday then, Joe?
Joe: (annoyed) Randy is, damn it!
Randy: (quietly) If I'm not stiff.
(Joe gets up and slams the office door)
Reporter: (to Posada as they walk away) Don't you think Joe looks kinda like a retard with his hat barely sitting on top of his head like that?
Posada: No comment. Wait. Fuck that, yes he does. Mariano blew the save last night becasue he couldn't stop lauhging at Joe's hat.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Bad Bats + Bad Call + Bad Bernie + Bad Bullpen = One Bad L
Twins 5, Yankees 1
The re-emergence of a negative pattern from last year: The Yankees face a guy they're never seen before. He doesn't throw particularly hard. He doesn't throw much of anything. The Yankees lunge and flail at first pitches. Before you know it it's the seventh inning and we've scored one run.
Mussina pitched pretty well. Torre left him in for one batter too many and that cost us a run. Farnsworth blew up and that cost us two more runs, but by that time it really didn't matter.
Along with our burtal approach at the plate last night, two pivotal plays turned this game.
Posada was at third with one out and the Yankees trailing 2-1. Bernie flies to deep right. Posada is slow, and Lew Ford makes a very good throw. Posada's called out at the plate. On the replay it's clear that Mauer doesn't come close to tagging Posada's back before Posada's hand touches the plate. Inning over, huge momentum swing.
Any doubt that the call was bogus is erased next inning when YES shows the home plate umpire going up to Posada between innings and asking him about the call. You can clearly read Posada's lips saying "he didn't tag me." And they weren't arguing; the home plate umpire has this embarrased smile on his face. He knew he blew the call! Aaagggggghhhhhhh!!!!!
The other play comes in the eighth. We get first and second against Rincon, no outs, only down 3-1. Bernie comes up. And promptly bounces into a double play. Game.
But that shouldn't obscure the fact that we lost this game with our approach at the plate. Baker doesn't throw very hard, he doesn't have a devastating splitter or a killer change-up. His curve ball reminds no one of Bert Blylyven. His motion is hardly deceptive. He's the kind of pitcher, whether we've seen him before or not, that this team should if not feast on then at least get more than 3 hits off of in seven innings.
The other issue that games like last night point up is the Bernie Williams issue. This past homestand against KC Bernie did well and the Yankee Stadium crowd practically gave him a curtain call for every hit. And I understand it's going to be a love-fest this year, a "Thanks for the Memories" sort of deal as Bernie takes his "victory lap" all season.
Which is fine, but this is the reason I didn't want Bernie back this year, even at the bargain rate. Becasue I know Torre is going to find a way to play him 14o games this year. And Bernie simply isn't a 140 games kind of player any more. Torre will run two hours of windsprints before he'll go against one of "his guys." Having Bernie there makes Torre manage from the history books, which is bad for the team.
I blame the front office for not addressing the DH situation this off-season. For whatever reason, Giambi hits a lot better when he plays first base. I accept that and can live with Giambi's defensive shortcomings because his offense far outweighs those. Given that, we needed to have a much better option at DH than Bernie. Since we will undoubtedly need pitching by the time the trading deadline approaches, we are most likely stuck with Bernie Brain Lock as the mostly full-time DH all season.
Santana vs. Wright Tonight
Tonight, it's Jaret Wright's first start of the season, versus Johann Santana. And while Santana's first two starts haven't been good, I don't like the way this game shapes up at all. Santana is going to figure it out pretty soon, probably tonight. Wright seems totally incapable of dodging flying objects when on the mound and even when he's not getting hit by stuff he's prone to mental lapses. The Yankees' best hope is that Santana has one more bad start in him, Wright is decent and that the bullpen manages to hold it together. I'm not supremely confident.
The re-emergence of a negative pattern from last year: The Yankees face a guy they're never seen before. He doesn't throw particularly hard. He doesn't throw much of anything. The Yankees lunge and flail at first pitches. Before you know it it's the seventh inning and we've scored one run.
Mussina pitched pretty well. Torre left him in for one batter too many and that cost us a run. Farnsworth blew up and that cost us two more runs, but by that time it really didn't matter.
Along with our burtal approach at the plate last night, two pivotal plays turned this game.
Posada was at third with one out and the Yankees trailing 2-1. Bernie flies to deep right. Posada is slow, and Lew Ford makes a very good throw. Posada's called out at the plate. On the replay it's clear that Mauer doesn't come close to tagging Posada's back before Posada's hand touches the plate. Inning over, huge momentum swing.
Any doubt that the call was bogus is erased next inning when YES shows the home plate umpire going up to Posada between innings and asking him about the call. You can clearly read Posada's lips saying "he didn't tag me." And they weren't arguing; the home plate umpire has this embarrased smile on his face. He knew he blew the call! Aaagggggghhhhhhh!!!!!
The other play comes in the eighth. We get first and second against Rincon, no outs, only down 3-1. Bernie comes up. And promptly bounces into a double play. Game.
But that shouldn't obscure the fact that we lost this game with our approach at the plate. Baker doesn't throw very hard, he doesn't have a devastating splitter or a killer change-up. His curve ball reminds no one of Bert Blylyven. His motion is hardly deceptive. He's the kind of pitcher, whether we've seen him before or not, that this team should if not feast on then at least get more than 3 hits off of in seven innings.
The other issue that games like last night point up is the Bernie Williams issue. This past homestand against KC Bernie did well and the Yankee Stadium crowd practically gave him a curtain call for every hit. And I understand it's going to be a love-fest this year, a "Thanks for the Memories" sort of deal as Bernie takes his "victory lap" all season.
Which is fine, but this is the reason I didn't want Bernie back this year, even at the bargain rate. Becasue I know Torre is going to find a way to play him 14o games this year. And Bernie simply isn't a 140 games kind of player any more. Torre will run two hours of windsprints before he'll go against one of "his guys." Having Bernie there makes Torre manage from the history books, which is bad for the team.
I blame the front office for not addressing the DH situation this off-season. For whatever reason, Giambi hits a lot better when he plays first base. I accept that and can live with Giambi's defensive shortcomings because his offense far outweighs those. Given that, we needed to have a much better option at DH than Bernie. Since we will undoubtedly need pitching by the time the trading deadline approaches, we are most likely stuck with Bernie Brain Lock as the mostly full-time DH all season.
Santana vs. Wright Tonight
Tonight, it's Jaret Wright's first start of the season, versus Johann Santana. And while Santana's first two starts haven't been good, I don't like the way this game shapes up at all. Santana is going to figure it out pretty soon, probably tonight. Wright seems totally incapable of dodging flying objects when on the mound and even when he's not getting hit by stuff he's prone to mental lapses. The Yankees' best hope is that Santana has one more bad start in him, Wright is decent and that the bullpen manages to hold it together. I'm not supremely confident.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
A Sweep, But of Course it's Never Quite That Simple
Yankees 9, Royals 3
A sweep of the Royals. It was a close game late, 4-2, when the Yankees blew it open with home runs from Giambi and Damon.
But amidst the joy of a sweep and getting back over .500, there is the usual attendant nonsense with Randy Johnson. Johnson started today, and after 5 good innings, led 4-1.
He didn't come out for the sixth. Immediately, of course, the speculation is that he hurt himself in some way. Ut-oh. But nothing to do for four more innings but wonder and watch as Proctor, Meyers, Sturtze and Villone piece together the final four inniings. (Sturtze taken deep again.)
Driving home, I hear on the radio that Torre said Johnson had "stiffness," but Johnson says he didn't. What? I can only imagine the conversation between the fifth and sixth innings.
Randy: I think I should come out. I'm a little stiff.
Joe: (laughing) Randy, at our age, being "stiff" is usually considered a good thing.
Jeter: (in the background, to Posada) Mr. Torre made a funny!
Randy: (slightly annoyed) No, really, Skip, I mean it. I've thrown 87 pitches. I think I should come out.
Joe: (to Guidry): What do you think of our bullpen going 4 innnings, Gator?
(Guidry chokes on a sunflower seed)
Kelly Stinnett: His stuff is still really moving, Skip.
Johnson: (glaring at Stinnett) You can be replaced.
Posada: Yeah!
Torre: (shifting uncomfortably) Well . . . . ummm, ok, Randy. Can I tell the media that you came out because you're stiff?
Johnson: NO.
Torre: OK, thanks, I'll go with that.
Torre: (to Guidry, still being Heimliched by the trainer) Get Proctor up.
Guidry: Eeeeeeeeeeeeuuuuugggggggggffffffffffffhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh pttttuuuuiiiiii!!!!!!
Or something like that.
White Sox 13, Tigers 9
Yikes! Garland throwing BP again. Today's line: 5 IP, 13 hits, 7 runs, all earned. 1 walk, 2 Ks, 2 HRs, 104 pitches (68 strikes, most of which were apparently hit hard.)
Garland gets the WIN this time to even his record at 1-1 and lowered his ERA to 13.49.
Thankfully the Tigers pitching was even worse and the Tigers, despite 21 hits, couldn't score enough runs.
Ozzieball 2006?
A sweep of the Royals. It was a close game late, 4-2, when the Yankees blew it open with home runs from Giambi and Damon.
But amidst the joy of a sweep and getting back over .500, there is the usual attendant nonsense with Randy Johnson. Johnson started today, and after 5 good innings, led 4-1.
He didn't come out for the sixth. Immediately, of course, the speculation is that he hurt himself in some way. Ut-oh. But nothing to do for four more innings but wonder and watch as Proctor, Meyers, Sturtze and Villone piece together the final four inniings. (Sturtze taken deep again.)
Driving home, I hear on the radio that Torre said Johnson had "stiffness," but Johnson says he didn't. What? I can only imagine the conversation between the fifth and sixth innings.
Randy: I think I should come out. I'm a little stiff.
Joe: (laughing) Randy, at our age, being "stiff" is usually considered a good thing.
Jeter: (in the background, to Posada) Mr. Torre made a funny!
Randy: (slightly annoyed) No, really, Skip, I mean it. I've thrown 87 pitches. I think I should come out.
Joe: (to Guidry): What do you think of our bullpen going 4 innnings, Gator?
(Guidry chokes on a sunflower seed)
Kelly Stinnett: His stuff is still really moving, Skip.
Johnson: (glaring at Stinnett) You can be replaced.
Posada: Yeah!
Torre: (shifting uncomfortably) Well . . . . ummm, ok, Randy. Can I tell the media that you came out because you're stiff?
Johnson: NO.
Torre: OK, thanks, I'll go with that.
Torre: (to Guidry, still being Heimliched by the trainer) Get Proctor up.
Guidry: Eeeeeeeeeeeeuuuuugggggggggffffffffffffhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh pttttuuuuiiiiii!!!!!!
Or something like that.
White Sox 13, Tigers 9
Yikes! Garland throwing BP again. Today's line: 5 IP, 13 hits, 7 runs, all earned. 1 walk, 2 Ks, 2 HRs, 104 pitches (68 strikes, most of which were apparently hit hard.)
Garland gets the WIN this time to even his record at 1-1 and lowered his ERA to 13.49.
Thankfully the Tigers pitching was even worse and the Tigers, despite 21 hits, couldn't score enough runs.
Ozzieball 2006?
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
And the hits (and walks) keep coming . . .
Yankees 12, Royals 5
I'd have liked 12-2 a lot better. Once again the starting pitching lets down and we're down 3-0 before we even come to bat.
But KC's 3-0 lead wasn't enough for Affelt (who's so tough apparently he scared Ozzie Guillen into using his B-team against the Royals last week). Walk to Damon, walk to Jeter, a bomb by Sheffield, and it's a tie game.
And that was that. Today we put some this together with the walks and this one never felt in doubt once we got the lead. Chacon lasted six innings, giving up all five runs, and got the win, not necessarily well-deserved but earned.
Excellent patience at the plate again today, which makes me happy. The bullpen was good again, Meyers, Farnsworth, and Villone (a wonderful-sounding law firm -- two Ivy League-type barristers and the street-fighter type for those tacky but lucrative personal-injury cases) going untouched the over the final three innings in mop-up duty. This doesn't seem important but the way you become one of "Joe's Guys" is not just by clutch performances; it's by not losing focus in situatioins where it's easy to, also.
One more day game against the Royals (enact a minimum payroll NOW!) then it's off to Minnesota, where the bats will have a tougher test against an excellent Twins staff.
Mets @ Nationals
Is on as I write this. Hoping for the some more fireworks, but so far Pedro is on his best behavior. That can't last, can it?
I'd have liked 12-2 a lot better. Once again the starting pitching lets down and we're down 3-0 before we even come to bat.
But KC's 3-0 lead wasn't enough for Affelt (who's so tough apparently he scared Ozzie Guillen into using his B-team against the Royals last week). Walk to Damon, walk to Jeter, a bomb by Sheffield, and it's a tie game.
And that was that. Today we put some this together with the walks and this one never felt in doubt once we got the lead. Chacon lasted six innings, giving up all five runs, and got the win, not necessarily well-deserved but earned.
Excellent patience at the plate again today, which makes me happy. The bullpen was good again, Meyers, Farnsworth, and Villone (a wonderful-sounding law firm -- two Ivy League-type barristers and the street-fighter type for those tacky but lucrative personal-injury cases) going untouched the over the final three innings in mop-up duty. This doesn't seem important but the way you become one of "Joe's Guys" is not just by clutch performances; it's by not losing focus in situatioins where it's easy to, also.
One more day game against the Royals (enact a minimum payroll NOW!) then it's off to Minnesota, where the bats will have a tougher test against an excellent Twins staff.
Mets @ Nationals
Is on as I write this. Hoping for the some more fireworks, but so far Pedro is on his best behavior. That can't last, can it?
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Thrills and Chills for the Home Opener
Yankees 9, Royals 7
It was old-school roday -- stuck at work so had to listen to John (The Great I Am) Sterling and Suzyn Waldmyn on the radio.
Yankee jump out to a 3-0 lead courtesy of Gimabi golfing an 0-2 pitch into the stands. They make it 4-1 on four walks a couple of innings later. Things are looking good.
Um, no they're not. Wang doesn't have it, totally loses his mechanics and when a sinker ball pitcher isn't throwing sinkers, bad things happen. (Yankee fans will painfully remember one K. Brown.)
Soon it's 4-4. Then it's 5-4, KC. Enter Tanyon Sturtze. Along the way we've blown some good scoring chances, most notably on a patented Bernie Williams brain-lock creating a gift double play.
Now, Sturtze has a new approach, it seems. One that can be summed up as "hit it if you can." Well, guess what? They can. And they do.
Now it's 7-4 KC. Scott Prctor restores some sanity (how's that for irony?) and we come up in the bottom of the 8th, still behind 3.
We load the bases, courtesy of a couple more walks. Cano an RBI force out. 7-5. Bernie, a redemptive RBI single. 7-6, One out. Pitching change. Damon strikes out on thre pitches. Ouch.
Enter the Captain. Not too long after Sterling says "well, at least they go into the 9th down only one run," Jeter blasts one into the late afternoon sky. Three-run homer. 9-7 Yankees.
Mariano comes in an allows a bloop hit and hits Sweeney (good plan, hitting a guy who's 2-21 for the season), but that's all. Ballgame over . . . Yankees win, Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees Win!
There's lots to complain about. Wang. Sturtze. Bernie's mental lapses. Getting a million walks and missing out on chances to break it open. But a win's a win. We did score 9 runs. We showed good patience at the plate today. Proctor looked sharp, Mariano got his first save. It's all good.
It was old-school roday -- stuck at work so had to listen to John (The Great I Am) Sterling and Suzyn Waldmyn on the radio.
Yankee jump out to a 3-0 lead courtesy of Gimabi golfing an 0-2 pitch into the stands. They make it 4-1 on four walks a couple of innings later. Things are looking good.
Um, no they're not. Wang doesn't have it, totally loses his mechanics and when a sinker ball pitcher isn't throwing sinkers, bad things happen. (Yankee fans will painfully remember one K. Brown.)
Soon it's 4-4. Then it's 5-4, KC. Enter Tanyon Sturtze. Along the way we've blown some good scoring chances, most notably on a patented Bernie Williams brain-lock creating a gift double play.
Now, Sturtze has a new approach, it seems. One that can be summed up as "hit it if you can." Well, guess what? They can. And they do.
Now it's 7-4 KC. Scott Prctor restores some sanity (how's that for irony?) and we come up in the bottom of the 8th, still behind 3.
We load the bases, courtesy of a couple more walks. Cano an RBI force out. 7-5. Bernie, a redemptive RBI single. 7-6, One out. Pitching change. Damon strikes out on thre pitches. Ouch.
Enter the Captain. Not too long after Sterling says "well, at least they go into the 9th down only one run," Jeter blasts one into the late afternoon sky. Three-run homer. 9-7 Yankees.
Mariano comes in an allows a bloop hit and hits Sweeney (good plan, hitting a guy who's 2-21 for the season), but that's all. Ballgame over . . . Yankees win, Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees Win!
There's lots to complain about. Wang. Sturtze. Bernie's mental lapses. Getting a million walks and missing out on chances to break it open. But a win's a win. We did score 9 runs. We showed good patience at the plate today. Proctor looked sharp, Mariano got his first save. It's all good.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Willis in Pinstripes (or Elsewhere) by July?
According to MSN's Ken Rosenthal, the consensus among a number of MLB GMs is that the Marlins will look to trade Dontrelle Willis before the July 31st deadline.
It wouldn't surprise me. Nothing with the Marlins surprises me. I feel for Joe Gerardi; this team isn't going to be competitive with Willis; without them the 1962 Mets could be expunged from the record books.
But what I find really bizarre about this story is that not only will the Marlins pursue a new stadium but that MLB is ready to step in and help in that effort. The question in response to that needs to be screamed from the rooftops:
WHY?????????????
Florida fans are notorious for not supporting any other sport besides football. I don't fault anyone's choices in what they invest their sports-watching dollars in, but MLB needs to look reality in the face, sit down with Luria, and say "Look, we like you as an owner. Let's find a city where the team will be supported and has a chance to thrive. Your perennial fire-sales are bad for the team, and bad for the game. But in another place, you can make even more money and field a compeitive team on a regular basis."
Personally, although MLB won't do this, I'd bite the bullet and move the team to Las Vegas. Gambling is ubiquitous now, with the Internet; Las Vegas is actually "cleaner" regarding the "undesireable element" than many cities that already have teams.
But OK, MLB won't go for Vegas just now. There's other places. The point is, let's not soak the taxpayers of South Florida to help keep a team there that not that many people there really care about (even when they win the Woirld Series).
I won't hold my breath. Bud always has and always will think like an owner.
Good luck this season, Mr Gerardi. If you win 65 games you deserve Manager of the Year.
It wouldn't surprise me. Nothing with the Marlins surprises me. I feel for Joe Gerardi; this team isn't going to be competitive with Willis; without them the 1962 Mets could be expunged from the record books.
But what I find really bizarre about this story is that not only will the Marlins pursue a new stadium but that MLB is ready to step in and help in that effort. The question in response to that needs to be screamed from the rooftops:
WHY?????????????
Florida fans are notorious for not supporting any other sport besides football. I don't fault anyone's choices in what they invest their sports-watching dollars in, but MLB needs to look reality in the face, sit down with Luria, and say "Look, we like you as an owner. Let's find a city where the team will be supported and has a chance to thrive. Your perennial fire-sales are bad for the team, and bad for the game. But in another place, you can make even more money and field a compeitive team on a regular basis."
Personally, although MLB won't do this, I'd bite the bullet and move the team to Las Vegas. Gambling is ubiquitous now, with the Internet; Las Vegas is actually "cleaner" regarding the "undesireable element" than many cities that already have teams.
But OK, MLB won't go for Vegas just now. There's other places. The point is, let's not soak the taxpayers of South Florida to help keep a team there that not that many people there really care about (even when they win the Woirld Series).
I won't hold my breath. Bud always has and always will think like an owner.
Good luck this season, Mr Gerardi. If you win 65 games you deserve Manager of the Year.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Splitsville in Anaheim; The Royals Loom
Angels 3, Yankees 2
Yankees 10, Angels 1
Two games back to back that pretty much sum up this team.
Saturday, Randy pitches pretty well. Not Randy Johnson well, but well enough to win most games. But for another game the bats are dead. Solo homers by Jeter in the first and Matsui in the ninth, and nothing in between.
Today, Colon didn't have it, Posada put on a personal highlight reel and it was over early. Mussina with six good innings. Mariano finally gets in a game, by the way, pitching a scoreless ninth. Flying home tomorrow; the home opener Tuesday is against KC.
What really bothered me about Saturday's loss was something that bothered me all last year. And that's the total lack of patience at the plate. The first couple of innings, the Yankees were taking a lot of pitches; after that, with the exception of Giambi and Damon, they were hacking away, making Santana's job a lot easier.
Announcers are constantly telling us how much video these guys watch, and how great that is. What are they watching video of -- their home run swings? The offensive formula of the Yankees' most recent championship teams was very simple: Take a lot of pitches. Get into the other team's bullpen as early as possible. This works becasue the bullpen, especially the middle part of the bullpen, is the weakest part of most teams; it's what they spend the least money on and it's where talent overall seems to be thinnest.
Since 2002 or so the Yankees have pretty much abandoned that approach. This pattern of one huge game, then a number of games where they can't seem to score at all, happened a lot last year and is going to be repeated this year unless they adopt a more patient approach and get the cheap runs that patient-hitting teams get.
Looking forward: 2-4 isn't great, but it's not terrible, and that's one West Coast swing down already. The starting pitching, my biggest concern, was actually pretty good overall. The bullpen still worries me (am I the only person who thinks that we shuoldn't have gotten quite so entranced by Farnworth's one good year last year?). So a lot is still up in the air.
As to playing KC this week, this is the sort of team that the Yankees can have trouble getting motivated to play, even on Opening Day. And it's too early for KC to realize that they don't have a chance this season, so they're dangerous. The fact that they're all day games (meaning I'm going to miss them, being at work) could be a blessing in diguise. If they turn out to all be glorious wins I can catch them on Yankees Rewind at night.
Yankees 10, Angels 1
Two games back to back that pretty much sum up this team.
Saturday, Randy pitches pretty well. Not Randy Johnson well, but well enough to win most games. But for another game the bats are dead. Solo homers by Jeter in the first and Matsui in the ninth, and nothing in between.
Today, Colon didn't have it, Posada put on a personal highlight reel and it was over early. Mussina with six good innings. Mariano finally gets in a game, by the way, pitching a scoreless ninth. Flying home tomorrow; the home opener Tuesday is against KC.
What really bothered me about Saturday's loss was something that bothered me all last year. And that's the total lack of patience at the plate. The first couple of innings, the Yankees were taking a lot of pitches; after that, with the exception of Giambi and Damon, they were hacking away, making Santana's job a lot easier.
Announcers are constantly telling us how much video these guys watch, and how great that is. What are they watching video of -- their home run swings? The offensive formula of the Yankees' most recent championship teams was very simple: Take a lot of pitches. Get into the other team's bullpen as early as possible. This works becasue the bullpen, especially the middle part of the bullpen, is the weakest part of most teams; it's what they spend the least money on and it's where talent overall seems to be thinnest.
Since 2002 or so the Yankees have pretty much abandoned that approach. This pattern of one huge game, then a number of games where they can't seem to score at all, happened a lot last year and is going to be repeated this year unless they adopt a more patient approach and get the cheap runs that patient-hitting teams get.
Looking forward: 2-4 isn't great, but it's not terrible, and that's one West Coast swing down already. The starting pitching, my biggest concern, was actually pretty good overall. The bullpen still worries me (am I the only person who thinks that we shuoldn't have gotten quite so entranced by Farnworth's one good year last year?). So a lot is still up in the air.
As to playing KC this week, this is the sort of team that the Yankees can have trouble getting motivated to play, even on Opening Day. And it's too early for KC to realize that they don't have a chance this season, so they're dangerous. The fact that they're all day games (meaning I'm going to miss them, being at work) could be a blessing in diguise. If they turn out to all be glorious wins I can catch them on Yankees Rewind at night.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Yankees drab in loss; Ozzie clueless in KC
Angels 4, Yankees 1
Yankees lost to the Redondo Beach Angels of Miramax or whatever they're called this year, 4-1. Shawn Chacon never had it, the bats didn't do much, and a decent effort by the bullpen was an afterthought in a rather depressing loss.
Pivotal moment in the game came in the top of the seventh, when the Yankees loaded the bases with one out against the BBE (Best Bullpen Ever -- ask anyone on ESPN). I was watching the game with a friend, who said "I smell a rally." I wasn't quite convinced, but I was starting to get a glimmer of hope. Bases loaded, one out, down 4-1 but with Sheffield and A-Rod and Matsui due up.
Well, before I could start to smell the rally, Sheffield hits a grounder to third, and is out by three steps on the tail end of a 5-4-3 inning-ending, rally-killing, essentially game-sealing double play. Way to leg that one out, Gary. Guess he wasn't smelling the rally or the RBI chance there. For the game, Sheffield left 4 RISP with 2 outs.
OK, it's four games in. I'm nothing close to worried, in the larger sense, but I do see glimpses of something very troubling. And it's not the starting pitching, it's not the defense, it's not the middle relief. It's this:
An unhappy Sheffield is a huge deterrent to team chemistry and winning.
I saw flashes of it last year; Sheffield went into a couple of pouts of different times last season and completely mailed it in, both in the field (where his play has gradually deteriorated anyway) and at the plate. This year, having to play the whole season apparently with the contract option being an unresolved issue, I expect the sulks to be longer and more numerous. A scary proposition.
Torre is trying to do what he can to keep Sheffield's ego boosted, continuing to bat him third, but the lineup as a whole suffers as a result. The Yankee lineup typically so far this season looks like this:
Damon, Jeter, Sheffield, A-Rod, Giambi, Matsui, Posada, Bernie, Cano. (Torre got wild last night and flip-flopped Bernie and Cano -- beat still my heart!)
Several points here.
1. The hitters, in order are: L, R, R, R, L, L, switch, switch, L (L). Way too bunched. When a team only has one lefty in the its bullpen, like the Angels, the lineup has to force the opposing manager to gamble a bit in late-game situations and let his lefty face a one or two dangerous RH hitters rather than lose him for the game.
2. Why is our #3 hitter batting 6th? Matsui is the best overall hitter on the team and the most clutch RBI man they have. Torre's ego-massage of Sheffield isn't helping Sheffield or the team.
3. My proposed lineup: Damon, Jeter, Matsui, A-Rod, Giambi, Sheffield, Cano, Posada, Bernie. That's L, R, L, R, L, R, L, switch, switch, (L). Harder to match up against, better balanced. What's Sheffield going to do in protest? Hurt hiumself? I can think of worse scenarios.
4. If Joe really needs to placate Sheffield, take my propsed lineup and fli-flop Sheffield and A-Rod. Sheffield will still feel like The Man, hitting cleanup, and A-Rod would take fine to hitting 6th and still drive in a ton of runs.
But enough bitching. This lineup should be able to score lots of runs even if Torre threw the names in a hat and pulled them out at random. I do see the spectre of the Gary Sheffield "job action" affecting this team negatively all year, though.
Randy goes tonight against Santana. Looking for better things to start happening. 1-3 bites but the 1998 Yankees started 0-3. (Trust me, I know that this year's model bears no resemblance to that team, but I comfort myself with statistical curiosities.)
Royals 11, White Sox 7
Strange game. The W Sox jump out to a 6-0 lead. Garland gives 5 of them back in the bottom of the fourth. Oops! W Sox tack on a run top 5 to lead 7-5. Ozzie (The Certified Genius) sends Garland back out for the 5th. OK, still got a lead, give him a chance to get 5 innings in and still get the win. Oops! Royals tie it up with 2, bottom 5. Oops!
The White Sox don't score top 6. Ozzie sends Garland out there for the bottom of the 6th! Royals go strikeout, infield hit, double. 8-7. Garland out, Thronton in. Double. 9-7 Royals. Oops! Thornton gets out of the inning, mops up the rest of the way, giving up a couple more runs, letting the Royals fans for one night at least take their eyes off the just-released Chiefs schedule.
Garland's pitching line: 5.1 innings, 10 hits, 9 runs, all earned. 2 walks, 2 wild pitches.
OK, questions abound here.
You can't have Garland start the 6th. He's given up 7 runs in 5 innings, thrown 90+ pitches. He's going to "right himself" in the 6th?
The White Sox have a terrific bullpen. After the bonehead move of letting Garland start the 6th, Ozzie finally pulls his head out of the bag of sunflower seeds and his own press clippings, and brings in Thornton. Thornton? You're only down a run at that point. You had the day off the day before. You wanted the lefty-lefty matchup againts DeJesus? OK, I guess. But your bullpen is good enough that that shouldn't matter. But OK. DeJesus doubles. 9-7. Still it's not out of reach. Ozzie puts the game into mop-up mode, and lets Thronton go the rest of the way?
Not to mention the lineup. Ozzie put the B-squad out there last night, figuring perhaps it's KC, it doesn't matter? Was he that afraid of Affelt? Since when does that lefty make the World Champions put a spring-training lineup out there?
Weird. But I criticize out of love, of course.
Yankees lost to the Redondo Beach Angels of Miramax or whatever they're called this year, 4-1. Shawn Chacon never had it, the bats didn't do much, and a decent effort by the bullpen was an afterthought in a rather depressing loss.
Pivotal moment in the game came in the top of the seventh, when the Yankees loaded the bases with one out against the BBE (Best Bullpen Ever -- ask anyone on ESPN). I was watching the game with a friend, who said "I smell a rally." I wasn't quite convinced, but I was starting to get a glimmer of hope. Bases loaded, one out, down 4-1 but with Sheffield and A-Rod and Matsui due up.
Well, before I could start to smell the rally, Sheffield hits a grounder to third, and is out by three steps on the tail end of a 5-4-3 inning-ending, rally-killing, essentially game-sealing double play. Way to leg that one out, Gary. Guess he wasn't smelling the rally or the RBI chance there. For the game, Sheffield left 4 RISP with 2 outs.
OK, it's four games in. I'm nothing close to worried, in the larger sense, but I do see glimpses of something very troubling. And it's not the starting pitching, it's not the defense, it's not the middle relief. It's this:
An unhappy Sheffield is a huge deterrent to team chemistry and winning.
I saw flashes of it last year; Sheffield went into a couple of pouts of different times last season and completely mailed it in, both in the field (where his play has gradually deteriorated anyway) and at the plate. This year, having to play the whole season apparently with the contract option being an unresolved issue, I expect the sulks to be longer and more numerous. A scary proposition.
Torre is trying to do what he can to keep Sheffield's ego boosted, continuing to bat him third, but the lineup as a whole suffers as a result. The Yankee lineup typically so far this season looks like this:
Damon, Jeter, Sheffield, A-Rod, Giambi, Matsui, Posada, Bernie, Cano. (Torre got wild last night and flip-flopped Bernie and Cano -- beat still my heart!)
Several points here.
1. The hitters, in order are: L, R, R, R, L, L, switch, switch, L (L). Way too bunched. When a team only has one lefty in the its bullpen, like the Angels, the lineup has to force the opposing manager to gamble a bit in late-game situations and let his lefty face a one or two dangerous RH hitters rather than lose him for the game.
2. Why is our #3 hitter batting 6th? Matsui is the best overall hitter on the team and the most clutch RBI man they have. Torre's ego-massage of Sheffield isn't helping Sheffield or the team.
3. My proposed lineup: Damon, Jeter, Matsui, A-Rod, Giambi, Sheffield, Cano, Posada, Bernie. That's L, R, L, R, L, R, L, switch, switch, (L). Harder to match up against, better balanced. What's Sheffield going to do in protest? Hurt hiumself? I can think of worse scenarios.
4. If Joe really needs to placate Sheffield, take my propsed lineup and fli-flop Sheffield and A-Rod. Sheffield will still feel like The Man, hitting cleanup, and A-Rod would take fine to hitting 6th and still drive in a ton of runs.
But enough bitching. This lineup should be able to score lots of runs even if Torre threw the names in a hat and pulled them out at random. I do see the spectre of the Gary Sheffield "job action" affecting this team negatively all year, though.
Randy goes tonight against Santana. Looking for better things to start happening. 1-3 bites but the 1998 Yankees started 0-3. (Trust me, I know that this year's model bears no resemblance to that team, but I comfort myself with statistical curiosities.)
Royals 11, White Sox 7
Strange game. The W Sox jump out to a 6-0 lead. Garland gives 5 of them back in the bottom of the fourth. Oops! W Sox tack on a run top 5 to lead 7-5. Ozzie (The Certified Genius) sends Garland back out for the 5th. OK, still got a lead, give him a chance to get 5 innings in and still get the win. Oops! Royals tie it up with 2, bottom 5. Oops!
The White Sox don't score top 6. Ozzie sends Garland out there for the bottom of the 6th! Royals go strikeout, infield hit, double. 8-7. Garland out, Thronton in. Double. 9-7 Royals. Oops! Thornton gets out of the inning, mops up the rest of the way, giving up a couple more runs, letting the Royals fans for one night at least take their eyes off the just-released Chiefs schedule.
Garland's pitching line: 5.1 innings, 10 hits, 9 runs, all earned. 2 walks, 2 wild pitches.
OK, questions abound here.
You can't have Garland start the 6th. He's given up 7 runs in 5 innings, thrown 90+ pitches. He's going to "right himself" in the 6th?
The White Sox have a terrific bullpen. After the bonehead move of letting Garland start the 6th, Ozzie finally pulls his head out of the bag of sunflower seeds and his own press clippings, and brings in Thornton. Thornton? You're only down a run at that point. You had the day off the day before. You wanted the lefty-lefty matchup againts DeJesus? OK, I guess. But your bullpen is good enough that that shouldn't matter. But OK. DeJesus doubles. 9-7. Still it's not out of reach. Ozzie puts the game into mop-up mode, and lets Thronton go the rest of the way?
Not to mention the lineup. Ozzie put the B-squad out there last night, figuring perhaps it's KC, it doesn't matter? Was he that afraid of Affelt? Since when does that lefty make the World Champions put a spring-training lineup out there?
Weird. But I criticize out of love, of course.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Two Duds After the Big Win; "Sandman" Gets Messy
Yankees followed up their big win in the first game with one lackluster and one miserable effort in Oakland. Somehow it was predictable. The main plus from the last two games was that Mussina pitched fiarly well. I was remarking to someone the other night that Moose is perhaps the oldest 37 I've even seen.
And the nibbling! Pleeeeeeeeeease make it stop. The Moose script is one I can so live without. Strike one. Strike two. Ball one, not that close. Ball two, a bit closer. Stare in at the ump a moment. Ball three, borderline. Long stare in at the ump. Batter swings at the next one, figuring he caught a break last pitch. Foul. Next pitch is normally hit hard somewhere.
It's maddening to watch him pitch. He's like a slightly better version of Kenny Rogers. Sad in a way that this guy will go down as a "number one and a half" starter. Could he be the best pitcher ever never to win 20 games in a season?
The Yankees did a lot wrong after that first blowout win. Costly errors, some Ks in big spots when they could've broken things open, and perhaps most troubling is the fact that of RJ, Mussina, and Wang, Wang was the least effective.
Much more entertaining scene in Flushing last night. The stage was set . . . Mets lead 4-3, top 9. Enter Wagner, to the strains of "Enter Sandman," which there was a little talk-radio flap about the past couple of days. ("Sandman" has been Mariano's entrance music for some years now. Apparently, it's been Wagner's music forever. Some (including WFAN's Chris Russo, the ultimate Yankee-hater) are of the opinion that Wagner shoudn't use this song, in New York, since, well, it's used across town by arguably the greatest relief pitcher ever.)
So, Wagner comes in and, as if Ruth and Gehrig and DiMaggio were calling the shots, gives up the game-tying home run. Not only that, it's no cheapie. It's crushed. Not only that, it's hit by a guy with maybe 50 career ML at-bats. Not only that, it's his first career home run. You couldn't write it as a work of fiction, it would'nt be believable.
So, tie game. The Mets threaten bottom 9 but don't score. Top 10, they bring in Jorge Julio, escaped from the perenially sinking ship in Baltimore. Yankee fans are familiar with Jorge Julio, but not his face. Mostly you see his back as he's watching home runs hurtling out of the park.
True to form, Julio gets taken deep. A bunch of other bad things happen and the Nationals put up a 5-spot. Mets get one run in the bottom of the 10th for appearances sake and lose 9-5. Rumors that Jorge Julio is being considered for the Mickey Rourke arsonist role in the remake of Body Heat can't be confirmed at this point.
And, as if a story like this needs a capper, Wagner, in his post-game interview, throws a dig at Mariano! He said something along the lines of he might consider not using the song anymore "since Mariano never blew a save." I don't know if there's video of this answer but presumably there was a suitable eye-roll on Wagner's part. Way to go, Billy. Pure class.
Three games in and it's a fun season already. Yankees are off today, and start three in Anaheim tomorrow. I'm looking for a much better performance than we had in Oakland. And I'll be so happy when they get off the West Coast; these 10PM starts are murder.
P. S. Has there ever been a dumber team name in the history of professional sports than "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?"
And the nibbling! Pleeeeeeeeeease make it stop. The Moose script is one I can so live without. Strike one. Strike two. Ball one, not that close. Ball two, a bit closer. Stare in at the ump a moment. Ball three, borderline. Long stare in at the ump. Batter swings at the next one, figuring he caught a break last pitch. Foul. Next pitch is normally hit hard somewhere.
It's maddening to watch him pitch. He's like a slightly better version of Kenny Rogers. Sad in a way that this guy will go down as a "number one and a half" starter. Could he be the best pitcher ever never to win 20 games in a season?
The Yankees did a lot wrong after that first blowout win. Costly errors, some Ks in big spots when they could've broken things open, and perhaps most troubling is the fact that of RJ, Mussina, and Wang, Wang was the least effective.
Much more entertaining scene in Flushing last night. The stage was set . . . Mets lead 4-3, top 9. Enter Wagner, to the strains of "Enter Sandman," which there was a little talk-radio flap about the past couple of days. ("Sandman" has been Mariano's entrance music for some years now. Apparently, it's been Wagner's music forever. Some (including WFAN's Chris Russo, the ultimate Yankee-hater) are of the opinion that Wagner shoudn't use this song, in New York, since, well, it's used across town by arguably the greatest relief pitcher ever.)
So, Wagner comes in and, as if Ruth and Gehrig and DiMaggio were calling the shots, gives up the game-tying home run. Not only that, it's no cheapie. It's crushed. Not only that, it's hit by a guy with maybe 50 career ML at-bats. Not only that, it's his first career home run. You couldn't write it as a work of fiction, it would'nt be believable.
So, tie game. The Mets threaten bottom 9 but don't score. Top 10, they bring in Jorge Julio, escaped from the perenially sinking ship in Baltimore. Yankee fans are familiar with Jorge Julio, but not his face. Mostly you see his back as he's watching home runs hurtling out of the park.
True to form, Julio gets taken deep. A bunch of other bad things happen and the Nationals put up a 5-spot. Mets get one run in the bottom of the 10th for appearances sake and lose 9-5. Rumors that Jorge Julio is being considered for the Mickey Rourke arsonist role in the remake of Body Heat can't be confirmed at this point.
And, as if a story like this needs a capper, Wagner, in his post-game interview, throws a dig at Mariano! He said something along the lines of he might consider not using the song anymore "since Mariano never blew a save." I don't know if there's video of this answer but presumably there was a suitable eye-roll on Wagner's part. Way to go, Billy. Pure class.
Three games in and it's a fun season already. Yankees are off today, and start three in Anaheim tomorrow. I'm looking for a much better performance than we had in Oakland. And I'll be so happy when they get off the West Coast; these 10PM starts are murder.
P. S. Has there ever been a dumber team name in the history of professional sports than "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?"
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
1 Down, 161 to go
Well, certainly nothing to complain about in Yankee-land after Game 1 of 162. The bats erupted. Randy was more than good enough. The Yankees typically hit Zito fairly well but last night Barry was obviously not himself. The only good thing about a 47.25 ERA is that is goes down really quickly.
Tonight's another story, and maybe a big story all year. Mike Mussina seems to be a very old 37. And while on paper the Yankees went into the season with "seven" starters, if Carl (Ouch!) Pavano can't get/stay healthy, and the league figures out Aaron Small, Mussina being ineffective/injured leaves us a starter short. Toss in Wang's surgically-repaired shoulder, Wright's inability to dodge flying objects directed towards the mound, and Randy's age, and things potentially could get very tricky this summer.
But I worry too much. It could all work out.
Remarkable restraint by Randy last night. Three Yankee batters were hit in a blowout game and Randy came close to a few people but didn't drill anyone. Kudos to the home plate ump for not warning the benches, preserving Randy's "free shot." None of the three HBPs were intentional. Oakland's pitchers were clearly in "get this over with" mode after Zito's early exit and Searloos' arsonoist routine.
Digital cable folks: MLB Extra Innings is free on digital cable for the first week of the season. Sometimes when you can't sleep, that KC-Seattle game works wonders.
Tonight's another story, and maybe a big story all year. Mike Mussina seems to be a very old 37. And while on paper the Yankees went into the season with "seven" starters, if Carl (Ouch!) Pavano can't get/stay healthy, and the league figures out Aaron Small, Mussina being ineffective/injured leaves us a starter short. Toss in Wang's surgically-repaired shoulder, Wright's inability to dodge flying objects directed towards the mound, and Randy's age, and things potentially could get very tricky this summer.
But I worry too much. It could all work out.
Remarkable restraint by Randy last night. Three Yankee batters were hit in a blowout game and Randy came close to a few people but didn't drill anyone. Kudos to the home plate ump for not warning the benches, preserving Randy's "free shot." None of the three HBPs were intentional. Oakland's pitchers were clearly in "get this over with" mode after Zito's early exit and Searloos' arsonoist routine.
Digital cable folks: MLB Extra Innings is free on digital cable for the first week of the season. Sometimes when you can't sleep, that KC-Seattle game works wonders.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Opening Day!
I really had wanted to get started here in advance of Opening Day, but life got in the way. Making up for lost time:
Official playoff predictions:
AL: Yankees, W. Sox, Angels. Wild Card: Boston.
NL: Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers. Wild Card: Mets.
World Series: Yankees/Cardinals. The Cardinals try to get another notch closer to 26 but fall short and the Yankees win the WS in 6.
I hate to be picking so much chalk, but:
Oakland is everyone's trendy pick this year. My not picking them is partially a reflection of the fact that the trendy pick almost never pans out. Cleveland? Teams that overachieved the previous year rarely do as well the following year. Minnesota's pitching should keep them very competitive, but it still looks like the White Sox have too much. I didn't like the Thome acquisition but I look an idiot already, Thome having gone deep last night. Toronto has improved and should hang around quite a while. Tampa Bay will be a very difficult team to play but they still lack pitching and will lose a lot of 10-7 games this year.
I see few playoff locks in the generally weak NL. The Mets should challenge the Braves but every year people get burned thinking the Braves' run is finally over. I don't see any big challenge to the Cardinals in the Central. No, it's NOT the Cubs' year. Perhaps they have something special planned for the centennial in 2008. In the West, I suppose that if Bonds doesn't totally break down the Giants are a contender, but I simply refuse to pick them for the playoffs. The Dodgers are as much a protest pick as anything else.
Predictions are fun. Let's hope my baseball predictions turn out better than my NCAA pool selections.
Dumb thing I heard during last night's White Sox/Indians game on ESPN: John (Balloon Head) Miller said, "it doesn't feel quite right calling the White Sox the 'World Champions' after we've just had the World Baseball Classic." John, please! Put down the Bud Selig Kool-Aid! The White Sox are the World Champions -- they decisively won the Championship of the highest level baseball league in the world. Done. MLB's scheme for selling more T-shirts in other countries has nothing to do with who is the "World Champion."
Dumb thing about last night's ESPN game: The two hour and fifty-seven minute rain delay. The game resumed in the fourth inning at 12:20 AM Eastern time (11:20 PM local time). As usual, MLB and ESPN have the fans' best interests at heart. It reminded me of Bill Murray in Caddyshack, telling the bishop in the midst of a monsoon, "I'd keep playing -- the real heavy stuff isn't coming down for another couple of hours."
Dumb thing about baseball in general: Bud Selig's "investigation" of steroids. On many levels, and I can't begin to get into them all right now. But, one aspect that troubles me, and which I've heard no one talk about, is this: George Mitchell is the Chairman of the Board of Disney. Corporate parent of ESPN, the head cheerleader in all this as MLB looked the other way. Oh well. They don't make investigations like they used to.
My Yankees are taking on those trendy A's tonight a 10PM start, my time. Going to be tough staying up for the whole thing. More soon.
Official playoff predictions:
AL: Yankees, W. Sox, Angels. Wild Card: Boston.
NL: Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers. Wild Card: Mets.
World Series: Yankees/Cardinals. The Cardinals try to get another notch closer to 26 but fall short and the Yankees win the WS in 6.
I hate to be picking so much chalk, but:
Oakland is everyone's trendy pick this year. My not picking them is partially a reflection of the fact that the trendy pick almost never pans out. Cleveland? Teams that overachieved the previous year rarely do as well the following year. Minnesota's pitching should keep them very competitive, but it still looks like the White Sox have too much. I didn't like the Thome acquisition but I look an idiot already, Thome having gone deep last night. Toronto has improved and should hang around quite a while. Tampa Bay will be a very difficult team to play but they still lack pitching and will lose a lot of 10-7 games this year.
I see few playoff locks in the generally weak NL. The Mets should challenge the Braves but every year people get burned thinking the Braves' run is finally over. I don't see any big challenge to the Cardinals in the Central. No, it's NOT the Cubs' year. Perhaps they have something special planned for the centennial in 2008. In the West, I suppose that if Bonds doesn't totally break down the Giants are a contender, but I simply refuse to pick them for the playoffs. The Dodgers are as much a protest pick as anything else.
Predictions are fun. Let's hope my baseball predictions turn out better than my NCAA pool selections.
Dumb thing I heard during last night's White Sox/Indians game on ESPN: John (Balloon Head) Miller said, "it doesn't feel quite right calling the White Sox the 'World Champions' after we've just had the World Baseball Classic." John, please! Put down the Bud Selig Kool-Aid! The White Sox are the World Champions -- they decisively won the Championship of the highest level baseball league in the world. Done. MLB's scheme for selling more T-shirts in other countries has nothing to do with who is the "World Champion."
Dumb thing about last night's ESPN game: The two hour and fifty-seven minute rain delay. The game resumed in the fourth inning at 12:20 AM Eastern time (11:20 PM local time). As usual, MLB and ESPN have the fans' best interests at heart. It reminded me of Bill Murray in Caddyshack, telling the bishop in the midst of a monsoon, "I'd keep playing -- the real heavy stuff isn't coming down for another couple of hours."
Dumb thing about baseball in general: Bud Selig's "investigation" of steroids. On many levels, and I can't begin to get into them all right now. But, one aspect that troubles me, and which I've heard no one talk about, is this: George Mitchell is the Chairman of the Board of Disney. Corporate parent of ESPN, the head cheerleader in all this as MLB looked the other way. Oh well. They don't make investigations like they used to.
My Yankees are taking on those trendy A's tonight a 10PM start, my time. Going to be tough staying up for the whole thing. More soon.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
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