I remember when ballplayers played ball, and singers sang. I miss those days.
It has been announced that A-Rod's wife (Cynthia or C- Rod?) is asking for a divorce today. Implications are that she has had enough. A-Rod has developed a bit of a reputation as a playa lately, and hanging with Madonna is just, well, weird.
Madonna claims they are just friends and her marriage to Mr. Madonna is just fine.
More rumors: A-Rod is busy sharing Friday night suppers with Madonna as part of Kabala, which is a religious experience. C-Rod is busy hanging out with Lenny Kravitz at his mansion in Paris.
The Yankees, back in the 70's-80's were known as the Bronx Zoo. A-Rod is doing everything to resurrect that moniker.
Hey Alex, how about toning down your crazy personal life and maybe doing something about that 9 game lead the Rays have over the Yankees?
Just sayin'.
Go Yankees
Monday, July 7, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
At the half way point
Things have not been going well for the squad. Injuries have just decimated them. At just a bit over .500 and 5.5 games behind the Rays, well, things are not looking great. But the guys still have time. Some of the disabled pitchers should be returning soon.
From www.mlb.com
Injured rookies Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are also making incremental progress. Kennedy (lat strain) was scheduled to make his second rehab start on Saturday for Class A Tampa, while Hughes (fractured rib) is expected to begin pitching in games in three weeks, putting his timetable for a Major League return in seven to eight weeks.
Additionally, right-hander Chris Britton (pulled rib-cage muscle) was scheduled to pitch in a Minor League game on Tuesday, having thrown two bullpen sessions already. Brian Bruney (right foot) was to throw one more bullpen session on Tuesday before resuming game action. He is expected to rejoin the Yankees' bullpen shortly after the All-Star break.
So, things may be looking up soon. By the way, what is interesting is that in the past, the Yankees have had an old staff, and lots of injuries. This year, they went younger, and the old timers, Pettitte and Moose are relatively injury free. Just when I think I have this figured out, along comes a season like this.
Which reminds me. Tampa Bay has the best record in baseball. This is one of the signs of the Apocolypse.
Go Yankees
From www.mlb.com
Injured rookies Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are also making incremental progress. Kennedy (lat strain) was scheduled to make his second rehab start on Saturday for Class A Tampa, while Hughes (fractured rib) is expected to begin pitching in games in three weeks, putting his timetable for a Major League return in seven to eight weeks.
Additionally, right-hander Chris Britton (pulled rib-cage muscle) was scheduled to pitch in a Minor League game on Tuesday, having thrown two bullpen sessions already. Brian Bruney (right foot) was to throw one more bullpen session on Tuesday before resuming game action. He is expected to rejoin the Yankees' bullpen shortly after the All-Star break.
So, things may be looking up soon. By the way, what is interesting is that in the past, the Yankees have had an old staff, and lots of injuries. This year, they went younger, and the old timers, Pettitte and Moose are relatively injury free. Just when I think I have this figured out, along comes a season like this.
Which reminds me. Tampa Bay has the best record in baseball. This is one of the signs of the Apocolypse.
Go Yankees
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Yanks seek vengeance against Pirates
Yup. That is how they have been previewing this series against the Bucs. The Yankees are finally getting a chance to make up for their defeat in the 1960 World Series. They do this all the time. The one bad part of interleague play is the stupid talk as if teams that last played nearly 50 years ago have some sort of connection to the teams that meet today. Doesn't matter than none of the players are still around, and none of the players on the field today were even alive in 1960. Some knucklehead somewhere thinks this is important. For the baseball history buff: Pirates won game 7as light hitting (138 career HR .260 avg. in 17 seasons) Bill Mazeroski hit a walk off home run.
Go Yankees
Go Yankees
Friday, June 20, 2008
Switch Pitcher
If he makes it to the majors, his baseball card will be the first ever with this designation. Bats B; Throws B.
Pat Venditte, of the Staten Island Yankees single A affiliate is a switch pitcher. And he throws well with both arms. He uses a custom glove that is ambidextrous.
AP photo
In last night's game, Pat faced a switch hitter, though, who refused to commit. The game was delayed for a while as the pitcher and batter went back and forth, responding to each other. Eventually, the umpires made the batter, Ralph Henriquez, commit. He batted right-handed, and struck out.
If Pat makes it to the majors, it will be an interesting situation, as they will have to make a rule just for him.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spjim155728089jun15,0,2025908.story
In other Yankee news, Joba pitched well enough to get the win, giving up just one run on 4 hits. Unfortunately, the Yankees didn't take the lead until after he was removed from the game. Joba looked absolutely dominent when he had to be. Could he step into the role as the Yankees ace? It's too early to tell, but it appears the first member of Generation Trey is ready to come to the forefront.
Go Yankees
Pat Venditte, of the Staten Island Yankees single A affiliate is a switch pitcher. And he throws well with both arms. He uses a custom glove that is ambidextrous.
AP photo
In last night's game, Pat faced a switch hitter, though, who refused to commit. The game was delayed for a while as the pitcher and batter went back and forth, responding to each other. Eventually, the umpires made the batter, Ralph Henriquez, commit. He batted right-handed, and struck out.
If Pat makes it to the majors, it will be an interesting situation, as they will have to make a rule just for him.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spjim155728089jun15,0,2025908.story
In other Yankee news, Joba pitched well enough to get the win, giving up just one run on 4 hits. Unfortunately, the Yankees didn't take the lead until after he was removed from the game. Joba looked absolutely dominent when he had to be. Could he step into the role as the Yankees ace? It's too early to tell, but it appears the first member of Generation Trey is ready to come to the forefront.
Go Yankees
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Looking at the disabled list
The team has had so many injuries to the pitching staff, I forgot a bunch of them.
Here's the updated list:
Jonathan Albaladejo
Chris Britton
Brian Bruney
Ian Kennedy
Humberto Sanchez
Phil Hughes
Jeff Karstens
And, believe it or not, one of the worst signings ever, Carl Pavano, is still on the team, and is on the injured list.
Got a couple more, but they weren't even on the 40 man roster.
I don't remember seeing a staff so decimated, long-term, by injuries.
Go Yankees
Here's the updated list:
Jonathan Albaladejo
Chris Britton
Brian Bruney
Ian Kennedy
Humberto Sanchez
Phil Hughes
Jeff Karstens
And, believe it or not, one of the worst signings ever, Carl Pavano, is still on the team, and is on the injured list.
Got a couple more, but they weren't even on the 40 man roster.
I don't remember seeing a staff so decimated, long-term, by injuries.
Go Yankees
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Wang out until September
This just reminds me of the video boxing game (may have been called Punch Out) where one can hear the announcer say "Body Blow." That's what I feel like with this news. The staff is reeling. The number 3 pitcher, Hughes, has been out most of the year. Number 5 pitcher Kennedy is out. Now number 1 is going down. Things are looking down in the Bronx. How many teams could lose 60% of their starting staff for most of the year, and have a chance?
Looking crosstown, the Mets out-Steinbrennered the Yankees. They did something in a manner even worse than George at his worst. They fired Willie Randolph. Talk about bad timing. They did it after a win, and after the beginning of a road trip. They easily could have done it before the team left for LA. They could have done it before Willie had his post game press conference, and talked of the positive move toward the future as the team won 3 of 4. Totally classless move, Mets.
Hank Steinbrenner, obviously upset that the Mets got the back page of the Daily News, is now carrying on about Wang'sd injury. He is blaming it on the lack of the DH in the NL. Come on, Hank, he was running the bases. When I was younger, even I could run the bases without getting injured.
It was a freak injury. Shut up.
Go Yankees
Looking crosstown, the Mets out-Steinbrennered the Yankees. They did something in a manner even worse than George at his worst. They fired Willie Randolph. Talk about bad timing. They did it after a win, and after the beginning of a road trip. They easily could have done it before the team left for LA. They could have done it before Willie had his post game press conference, and talked of the positive move toward the future as the team won 3 of 4. Totally classless move, Mets.
Hank Steinbrenner, obviously upset that the Mets got the back page of the Daily News, is now carrying on about Wang'sd injury. He is blaming it on the lack of the DH in the NL. Come on, Hank, he was running the bases. When I was younger, even I could run the bases without getting injured.
It was a freak injury. Shut up.
Go Yankees
Monday, June 16, 2008
Some More All-Time Team Members
Today, I wanted to have a look at the men who work around the keystone.
Second Base: The Yankees have never been known for great second basemen.
But that doesn't mean they haven't had some good ones since Poosh 'em Up Tony Lazzeri back in the '20's.
Horace Clarke was a decent player with good speed, and an ok glove. Hoss was good for around 20 doubles, and as many stolen bases along with a .256 average. These numbers are pretty poor by today's standards, but not that bad for the mid-60's. In 1968, Yastremski led the league with a .301 average, so .256 wasn't terrible. The league leader in doubles would hit 35 or so, and 40 HR would be enough to challenge for the HR title. But Horace isn't my guy.
Second is a tough choice because of these two guys, Willie Randolph, and Robinson Cano. It's hard to pick Cano because he only is in his 4th year. But he already has as many HR as Randolph hit in his 18 yr. career. He doesn't have the speed of Willie, who stole over 250 bases in his career. But this is a different Yankee team. This is a team built on power. Cano doesn't get the green light very often. Randolph has 2 rings as a player, again, it is hard to pick Cano over him. With the glove, they are both terrific.
What it comes down to is this: if I were going to start a team today, and had the choice of either player (pretending each was in their playing days, of course,) who would I choose, the man with the solid numbers in the bank, or the relative newbie with the upside?
I'm going with the kid. He has just shown so much in such a short time that I believe in a few short years, he will be considered as possibly the greatest Yankee second baseman of all time.
Shortstop: This is as close to a no-brainer as I can get. Gene Michael, master of the hidden ball trick? He was a really great (and tricky) fielder, but he was a .229 hitter with no power. But I did meet him and get his autograph at a charity basketball game over 30 years ago, so that did help raise him up in my assessment. He was a good guy.
Bucky Dent (Bucky F'ing Dent for my Red Sox readers) was a nice ballplayer who hit one of the biggest homeruns in Yankee history. It was one of the biggest in baseball history for that matter. He was a nice player who came up big in some big situations. He had a decent average in postseason play. He hit .349 in 2 World Series, both of which were won by the Yankees.
But my choice is the human highlight reel, Derek Jeter. The Captain (seems to be a theme) is possibly the greaytest Yankee shortstop of all-time, and he is most likely heading to the Hall of Fame as a first ballot inductee in about 10 years or so. Whether it is Jeter flying in the stands like Superman to snag a fly ball, or making a great play to nab an Oakland runner at the plate, or even belting a home run to win a playoff game, he has been right in the middle of every big event since he came to the team in 1995. It is more than a coincidence that the team has made the playoffs every year since his first full season in 1996.
Go Yankees
Second Base: The Yankees have never been known for great second basemen.
But that doesn't mean they haven't had some good ones since Poosh 'em Up Tony Lazzeri back in the '20's.
Horace Clarke was a decent player with good speed, and an ok glove. Hoss was good for around 20 doubles, and as many stolen bases along with a .256 average. These numbers are pretty poor by today's standards, but not that bad for the mid-60's. In 1968, Yastremski led the league with a .301 average, so .256 wasn't terrible. The league leader in doubles would hit 35 or so, and 40 HR would be enough to challenge for the HR title. But Horace isn't my guy.
Second is a tough choice because of these two guys, Willie Randolph, and Robinson Cano. It's hard to pick Cano because he only is in his 4th year. But he already has as many HR as Randolph hit in his 18 yr. career. He doesn't have the speed of Willie, who stole over 250 bases in his career. But this is a different Yankee team. This is a team built on power. Cano doesn't get the green light very often. Randolph has 2 rings as a player, again, it is hard to pick Cano over him. With the glove, they are both terrific.
What it comes down to is this: if I were going to start a team today, and had the choice of either player (pretending each was in their playing days, of course,) who would I choose, the man with the solid numbers in the bank, or the relative newbie with the upside?
I'm going with the kid. He has just shown so much in such a short time that I believe in a few short years, he will be considered as possibly the greatest Yankee second baseman of all time.
Shortstop: This is as close to a no-brainer as I can get. Gene Michael, master of the hidden ball trick? He was a really great (and tricky) fielder, but he was a .229 hitter with no power. But I did meet him and get his autograph at a charity basketball game over 30 years ago, so that did help raise him up in my assessment. He was a good guy.
Bucky Dent (Bucky F'ing Dent for my Red Sox readers) was a nice ballplayer who hit one of the biggest homeruns in Yankee history. It was one of the biggest in baseball history for that matter. He was a nice player who came up big in some big situations. He had a decent average in postseason play. He hit .349 in 2 World Series, both of which were won by the Yankees.
But my choice is the human highlight reel, Derek Jeter. The Captain (seems to be a theme) is possibly the greaytest Yankee shortstop of all-time, and he is most likely heading to the Hall of Fame as a first ballot inductee in about 10 years or so. Whether it is Jeter flying in the stands like Superman to snag a fly ball, or making a great play to nab an Oakland runner at the plate, or even belting a home run to win a playoff game, he has been right in the middle of every big event since he came to the team in 1995. It is more than a coincidence that the team has made the playoffs every year since his first full season in 1996.
Go Yankees
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About Me
- Da Old Man
- Downtown, New Jersey, United States
- Yankees fan. But the team hasn't been the same since Yogi retired. TV watching expert. Manly man.
