Mark Teixeira and the 2009 New York Yankees

It started off quietly with the acquisition of Nick Swisher from the White Sox.  Then, the drama built up over the Winter Meetings until finally C.C. Sabathia signed with the Yankees.  Shortly thereafter A.J. Burnett signed on giving the Yankees a suddenly formidable 1-2 punch.  Then came the rumors that the Yankees were flirting with Manny Ramirez and were talking to Scott Boras about Mark Teixeira.  The drama built as the Red Sox owner, John Henry sent around an email that said the Red Sox were out of the running for what many experts called the best position player on the market.  Few believed Mr. Henry, however.  Even today, it was widely believed the Red Sox were the frontrunners for Teixeira with the Nationals and Yankees on the outside looking in.  By 3:30 PM, the Yankees were the ones walking away with a new first baseman.  

Brian Cashman has entered the first playoffless offseason for the Yankees since 1993 with a passion unseen from any GM before.  He followed Sabathia to San Francisco to get the deal done.  He maintained contact with Burnett's agent throughout and finally brought in his #2 target a couple of days later.  Now, here he is, less than a week after the press conference introducing Sabathia and Burnett as Yankees, inking Mark Teixeira to an 8 year, $170-80 million deal.  What is more amazing, despite spending around $400 million this offseason, the Yankees are still going to come in UNDER last years payroll!  That's right, under last season's payroll.  What is even more amazing is this Yankees team is now better, younger, faster, slightly better on defense, and a lot better on the mound.  And what is even more amazing is there are still a bunch of prospects down on the farm in Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Alfredo Aceves, Austin Jackson, Mark Melancon, Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, and Andrew Brackman (hard not to be excited about a 6-11 guy, that is 6 feet 11 inches, who throws over 100 MPH).  For as much as I criticized Mr. Cashman last season, I am now willing to sit down to my plate of crow.  Line up the ketchup and salt because I'm hungry to eat this plate.  Let's go Yankees!  Oh, by the way, in case you just wanted to see what it looks like on paper here are your 2009 New York Yankees so far:

1B: Mark Teixeira

2B Robinson Cano

3B: Alex Rodriguez

SS: Derek Jeter

LF: Johnny Damon/Hideki Matsui

CF Nick Swisher/Johnny Damon/Melky Cabrera/Brett Gardner

RF: Xavier Nady/Nick Swisher

C: Jorge Posada

SP: C.C. Sabathia

SP: A.J. Burnett

SP: Chien Ming Wang

SP: Joba Chamberlain

SP: Phil Hughes or Andy Pettitte

RP: Mariano Rivera

RP: Damaso Marte

RP: Edwar Ramirez

RP: Dan Geise

RP: Jose Veras

RP: Brian Bruney

RP: Phil Coke

I know there are a few more RP slots than normal but I decided to list the top options there.

The Bench is still up in the air but it looks like it might be pretty deep when you take into account Damon, Cabrera, Cody Ransom, Jose Molina, and any others the Yankees might sign.  This is, by far, the most complete team the Yankees have fielded in a long time.  I, for one, can't wait to see what they can do.

C.C. Sabathia, Welcome to New York

C.C. Sabathia is a Yankee according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  It is about time.  Whew.  There is no truth to the rumor that Sabathia was waiting on a buffet clause to be added.  There is also no truth to the rumor that C.C. stands for Cheeseburgers and Cheesesteaks.  It might, however, stand for Cheeseburgers and Cash.  Or Carrying Cash.  No truth that Plaxico Burress will be in charge of Sabathia's personal security.

OK, all kidding aside, I am relieved the Yankees brought their man to the table...no I'm not going there.  Brian Cashman chased C.C. (which might actually stand for Chased by Cashman) to San Francisco, where most men go to catch other men.  

OK, OK, let me start over.  After one month, Sabathia is finally a Yankee.  There has been much speculation as to whether or not Sabathia wanted to be a Yankee.  Well, at 4:30 AM EST, Sabathia told Cashman he wanted to be a Yankee.  I wonder if it was at an all-night drive through McDonald's.  Who knows?  Actually, I am very happy with this move.  Sabathia is the best pitcher in the majors right now.  How can anyone be upset about that person coming to the team?  So what if the Steinbrenner's have to charter a whole other plane just for him?  It is C.C. Sabathia!  The Yankees caught the biggest fish in the pond, literally and figuratively.  Next up?  Well, you didn't think the Yankees would just chill out and stop with C.C. did you?  They have Sabathia, Wang, and Chamberlain.  There are still 2 spots to fill.  A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe remain targets.  As does Ben Sheets.  Personally, I would rather have Sheets and Jon Garland.  Let Phil Hughes chill on the farm and learn more and he can be ready in a year or two, or, if one of those guys gets hurt to "Phil"-in.  

I wouldn't be upset with a rotation that went Sabathia, Wang, Joba, Sheets, and Hughes.  Nor would I be upset at a rotation of C.C., Wang, Joba, Burnett, and Sheets.  I'm not a huge fan of Derek Lowe but hey, with the Yankees past successes with former Red Sox players (Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Babe Ruth come to mind) the Derek Lowe signing might be smart in the long run.  The Yankees rotation is now 3/5's finished and I think that the last two spots will be filled with very good, if not great pitchers.  Don't forget, Andy Pettitte might be the Yankees 5th starter if he gets off of his high horse and signs for $10 million while it is still on the table.  Hell, I would take Sabathia, Wang, Joba, Pettittte, and Hughes and go to war with that.  I don't know if this move put the Yankees in first since the past two AL Champions still reside in their division but they definitely  closed the gap.  Yankees fans can rest easy today and if having Sabathia doesn't soothe them they can rest easy with this thought:  At least they are not in charge of carrying his groceries!

A New Look Yankee Team

C.C. Sabathia is still sitting on that nice $140 million deal the Yankees offered.  He should be meeting with Brian Cashman at some point during the winter meetings in Las Vegas.  Whether or not he takes the dough is another story.  Cashman has to be prepared for Sabathia to turn elsewhere.  With only Joba Chamberlain and Chien Ming Wang, both of whom are coming off of injuries, returning to a rotation that was devastated last year by injury and ineffectiveness.  Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, two pitchers Cashman banked heavily on last year by not including them in a deal for Johan Santana, were ineffective at their best.  Hughes was the youngest pitcher in the majors last year and seemed to find his groove again in the Arizona Fall League.  However, he too has been hampered by injuries.  

The Yankees need to upgrade their rotation somehow, some way.  Even if that means pulling the offer from Sabathia if for no other reason then to get the off-season under way.  Sabathia is holding the whole show up as agents are waiting to see where he goes.  Many agents aren't letting their clients sign yet.  A.J. Burnett hasn't accepted the Braves' offer which includes a fifth year.  Would you knowing what might be at stake if the Yankees become desperate?  I don't think Burnett is going to sign with the Yankees but I do think he is waiting to see if he can get more years or more money by using the Yankees as leverage.  

If Burnett and Sabathia both sign elsewhere the Yankees are going to be left holding the bag.  Andy Pettitte is a free agent and has all but rejected the one year $10 million deal the Yanks have offered.  He still wants his $16 million that he made last year when he went 14-14 and faded badly down the stretch.  The Yankees could get a younger, cheaper, more viable option for that money.  Ben Sheets is the high risk-high reward player the Yankees could use right now.  He would be cheaper in terms of years and cash than Burnett or Lowe and is younger than both.  Sheets is also expected to reject arbitration which means he won't cost a lot in terms of draft picks.  Sheets has had a serious problem with staying healthy but did come close to 200 inning last year.  With a strong bullpen and a DH to ease some burden on Sheets he might just be able to stay healthy enough to make him a very good option for the Yankees.  

Taking the heavy offer away from the hefty lefty the Yankees could turn to Mark Teixiera to fill a glaring gap left by the departure of Jason Giambi.  I am a fan of the Nick Swisher move but I don't know if Swisher should be the first baseman of the future for the Yankees.  Teixiera is 29 and is a switch-hitter with an excellent glove.  Adding him to the lineup and on the field would give the Yankees 3-5 more wins than last year.  It would also enable the Yankees to move Swisher to the outfield in a platoon with Xavier Nady in right and Brett Gardner/Melky Cabrera in center.  

Because of the platoon(s) in the outfield, the Yankees need to do something about Hideki Matsui.  Last season the Yankees flirted with the idea of sending Matsui to San Francisco in exchange for Noah Lowry.  Lowry ended up hurt all of 2008 with a rare nerve problem in his forearm but the Yankees would be wise to revisit that deal.  Lowry is a good pitcher, a Mike Mussina type who relies on changing speeds more than speed.  Matsui is 35 and has 2 bad knees.  The Giants are desperate for offense and might be willing to gamble on Matsui for a year or two.  Matsui, who owns a no-trade clause, looked like he was willing to waive it for the Giants last season.  Adding Lowry would give the Yankees a viable back of the rotation starter to go along with Sheets, Chamberlain, Wang, and whomever wins the last slot.  

Brad Penny, Jon Garland, and even Freddy Garcia all could be options as well if the Yankees can't get the pitchers they crave.  All have solid health histories, although Garcia was hurt most of last season.  Garland might be the best of the bunch.  He is an innings eater and consistent pitcher.  He has postseason experience and is a type B free agent which would only cost the Yanks a second round pick which is not much this year because the Yankees look to gain a compensation pick for Abreu between the 1st and 2nd rounds and another for Pettitte.  

Cashman needs to give up on his Sabathia pipe dream and move on towards building a more versatile, cheaper team.  The Yankees without Sabathia but with Teixiera, Sheets, and Garland would be cheaper and better than the Yankees with Sabathia.  Smarten up Cashman, you are being taken for a fool.  The Yankees need players who are willing and able to take this team back to the top.  Sabathia doesn't want Yankee dollars.  Give that money to Tex and Sheets and continue building a team that will be able to contend for the next 5-10 years.

TRASH Talking Taken to a New Level!

GO ARMY!  SINK NAVY!!!

Sabathia's Delay Spells Trouble for Yanks

C.C. Sabathia was expected to announce where he was going to sign shortly after Thanksgiving.  However, I believe he is still waiting for a good offer from a West Coast team before he makes his decision.  The longer he waits the worse it gets for the Yankees.  A.J. Burnett will not sign before Sabathia does but the Yankees refusal to give him a 5th year ends that courtship.  This means the Yankees, with a rotation now of only Chien Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain, are putting their eggs all in one basket.  If Sabathia were truly going to accept the money over heart would he not have done so already?  Why would he wait?  Does he think the Yankees are going to increase their offer?  Does he believe the Brewers will up their $100 million offer?  Does he think the Angels will come in with the best offer?  The longer Sabathia waits the less chance the Yankees have to sign him.  

Andy Pettitte is another person who is sick of waiting on Sabathia.  Pettitte, like in the 2003-04 offseason is feeling shunned by the Yankees and has begun to backtrack on his claim that it is the Yankees or nobody in 2009.  He has openly talked to the Dodgers about the possibility of joining Joe Torre's rotation.  Although Pettitte didn't have a great year last year thanks to his second half meltdown, he still represent 14 wins from a rotation that has already lost 20 game winner Mike Mussina and doesn't have much in the way of proven starters.  Last season the Yankees were devastated by injuries and ineffectiveness and had to rely on Darrell Rasner to make 20 starts, third highest on the team, and Sidney Ponson who started 15 games.  If they lose out on Sabathia they might be forced to overpay for Burnett, or Derek Lowe.  However, the Yankees obsession with Sabathia might cost them Sabathia, Pettitte, Burnett, and Lowe and leave them with oft injured Ben Sheets, Jon Garland, Tom Glavine, Freddy Garcia, Pedro Martinez,   Oliver Perez, or Brad Penny.  Some of them might be decent choices but not for the money or years the Yankees would have to pay out in order to entice these pitchers to come to New York.  

The Yankees backup plan if they miss out on pitching might be to overload an offense that slacked off a bit last season.  That might mean adding Mark Teixiera and Manny Ramirez.  However, if one thing the past Yankees teams have proven is that you need pitching to win championships.  Brian Cashman had better apply the full court press to Pettitte and Sabathia and start thinking backup plans.  If he thinks Phil Hughes is ready to come into the rotation after a decent Arizona Fall League season he might be going down the same road as last season.  Hughes still has a big upside but is still 22 years old and has an injury history that is concerning.  Ian Kennedy proved last season he was either not ready or will never be ready.  Alfredo Aceves made 4 starts last season and looked like he might be a viable future option but as we have seen with Kennedy a short stint in September doesn't mean future success.  The fact is the Yankees put themselves out on a limb this offseason.  The Sabathia basket is not exactly the most stable basket for all of your eggs but the Yankees feel this is where they should go.  We shall see if the Yankees get lucky this offseason or if their luck has run out.

I Thought this Was the Holiday Season?

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving so first let me wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  It is this reason that I am writing.  Thanksgiving is the holiday we gather with our families and remember why we should be thankful for the things in life.  Tomorrow is also a big football day.  However, the NFL has not been in a very nice to its fans these past few years.  Tomorrow, just before everyone sits down to eat their bountiful feast the NFL is going to make everyone watch the winless Detroit Lions take on the Tennessee Titans who are coming off their first loss of the season to the New York Jets.  The Detroit Lions have not been good since Barry Sanders retired yet they are a staple on Thanksgiving.  Why?  Why must we be subjected to a Lions team that hasn't made the playoffs since 1999.  The same Detroit Lions that haven't had a winning season since 2000.  What makes this even more of an insult is there is a game with playoff implications on the NFL Network at 8:15 PM when the Eagles take on the Cardinals in Philly.  Most people don't get the NFL Network.  I'm lucky enough to get it but the NFL is really doing their fans a disservice.  The nation is subjected to the Lions while the NFL Network takes the good game for itself.  I guess the NFL is not thankful for its loyal fanbase.  I guess the NFL doesn't remember that the fans are the money.

Perhaps one day the fans will be treated with enough respect that the NFL will cast aside the putrid Lions in favor of a team that has been consistently good, or at least competitive every year.  Is the Steelers too much to ask for?  How about the Giants?  How about the Redskins?  How about any other team but the Lions?  Are the Lions the NFL's way of making everyone sick so they don't eat too much?  Either way, the NFL can stuff this turkey itself.  I'm refusing to watch!

King James to be King of New York?

Get the hell out of the way Isiah Thomas, Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni are making their presence felt on the Knick roster you so thoroughly messed up.  Yesterday the Knicks sent forward Zach Randolph and guard Mardy Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas and also sent Jamal Crawford to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Al Harrington.  The significance?  All of their contracts expire prior to the 2010 season when LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade become free agents.  Can this be a Knick team with an eye towards a bright future?  Am I really seeing a plan in the Garden?  Dear God!

It looks like James Dolan is finally off the drugs, or maybe back on them because both the Rangers and the Knicks are poised for fairly bright futures.  The fact that the Knicks traded bad contracts for ones that expire fairly soon is amazing in itself.  I wonder if they could possibly rid themselves of Stephon Marbury and Jerome James?  Well, that might be asking too much.  In Mobley and Thomas they get two guys who give the Knicks a little more flexibility on the floor.  Mobley and Thomas can both run as can Harrington when he is healthy.  

Some have questioned what Walsh is doing throwing away a potential playoff team that was hovering around .500, a vast improvement over previous Knick teams.  Why settle for a first round bounce when you can imitate what the Celtics did last year by bringing in a couple of high profile players through trade and free agency?  The east is a forgiving landscape to teams that show only a little improvement.  Adding Bosh and James would probably mean a trip to the NBA Finals.  For once the Knicks are the smart ones making moves.  What an interesting change of pace.  Now, if only I could get MSG so I can watch the Rangers and the Knicks I would be fine.

Dustin Pedroia is MVP? You gotta be kidding me!

Nothing against Dustin Pedroia, I think he is an excellent ball player.  I like his hard nosed approach to the game.  Is he an MVP?  No way.  This isn't my anti-Red Sox bias coming out here but rather a defense of Derek Jeter and other small, gritty, non-homer guys who have been passed over in years past.  Here are two stat lines.  I want you to tell me which one you think deserves the MVP vote:

158 games, 134 runs, 219 hits, 37 doubles, 9 triples, 24 homers, 102 RBI, 19 SB's, .438 OBP, .349 AVG

157 games, 118 runs, 213 hits, 54 doubles, 2 triples, 17 homers 83 RBI, 20 SB's, .376 OBP, .326 AVG

I'll let you guess which one is Derek Jeter's stats in 1998 and which is Pedroia's 2008.  Think that is unfair?  OK.  Here is another stat line to be compared with Pedroia's 2008 numbers:

154 games, 118 runs, 214 hits, 39 doubles, 3 triples, 14 homers, 97 RBI, 34 SB's, .343 AVG.  The man who owns those numbers lost the MVP race to Justin Morneau in 2006.  His name?  Derek Jeter.  Dustin Pedroia won the MVP beating out the very man who beat Derek Jeter in 2006.  Let us compare Mr. Morneau's numbers from 2006 and 2008 and see how big of a difference there was:

2006:  157 games, 97 runs, 190 hits, 37 doubles, 1 triple, 34 homers, 130 RBI, .375 OBP, 3 SB's, .321 AVG.

2008:  163 games, 97 runs, 187 hits, 47 doubles, 4 triples, 23 homers, 129 RBI, 0 SB's, .300 AVG.  

You mean to tell me that all of a sudden Justin Morneau's numbers are not good enough for MVP despite putting up eerily similar numbers?  Oh, and by the way, Morneau accounted for a higher percentage of his teams total offense in 2008 than in 2006 which means he was even more valuable to his team in 2008 than in 2006 when he actually won the award.  Don't get me wrong, Morneau deserves his MVP award.  However, Dustin Pedroia should never have beaten Morneau while posting numbers that are generally considered worse than Derek Jeter's in 2006 when Jeter lost to Morneau.  In my opinion, the Baseball Writers have let the baseball world down.  Pedroia should not have been MVP if you are giving him the award for all the same reasons you denied Derek Jeter.  Talk about hypocrisy!  

If the Red Sox didn't have Pedroi this season would they have still made the playoffs?  Probably.  If the Twins didn't have Morneau would they have taken the White Sox to a one game playoff?  Not even close.  

there is some shady stuff going on with the BBWAA.  The NL MVP race was just as skewed.  Ryan Howard almost single handedly got the Phillies into the playoffs.  Yet, he comes in second place.  Hanley Ramirez, one of the games best and most exciting players who actually gave the Marlins fans reason to hope finished 11th.  Yet Manny Ramirez and C.C. Sabathia, both of whom played less than a year in the Senior Circuit finish in 2nd and 6th respectively.  I am not taking anything away from any player here, they are all great and what Manny did for the Dodgers was amazing and beyond words.  However, the BBWAA overlook so many key facts and stats that it makes these postseason awards a joke.  No wonder the Hall of Fame is quickly becoming a joke as well.  Maybe one day, Major League Baseball will wake up.  Maybe one day the BBWAA will grow up.  In the meantime I am going to go look at a bridge in Brooklyn I heard was for sale.

A Great One Retires

The baseball landscape has changed a little bit today.  Mike Mussina has decided to retire.  Mussina has been one of the best pitchers of this generation and is one of my all-time favorite players.  He has always gone out of his way for his fans, signing autographs sent to him through the mail, both at home and in care of the Yankees.  He always went above and beyond the call of duty for his fans.  

Moose will walk away from a career which was famous for his never having won 20 games, until he accomplished this feat this past season.  Now, Mussina should be famous for being a future Hall of Famer.  With a career record of 270-153 and a 3.68 ERA his numbers justify the Hall of Fame.  He has won 18 game or more 6 times.  He won 10 game or more 17 years in a row.  Mussina deserves the Hall of Fame.  The Hall of Fame needs Mussina.  Guys like him do not come around very often, sadly.  

The New York Yankees will not be the same without Mussina who joined the team in 2001 and has been an ace for them ever since.  Baseball will not be the same without Mussina who truly made an art of pitching.  There was something remarkable about watching him pitch his way into history this season.  I was lucky enough to see him pitch twice this season and several times during his career.  I will miss Mike Mussina.  Perhaps I will travel up to Cooperstown when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Hopefully.  

Second Course of the Free Agent Feeding Frenzy

Now that our appetites have been whetted, how about we dig in for some more rumors and guesses.  

Bobby Abreu, OF:  I think the Mets would be foolish not offer him a contract.  They need some help, especially in the outfield where Moises Alou was counted upon last year to fill a void.  Needless to say, that void remains like an injury to Mr. Alou.  Of course, if the Mets did things that made sense they wouldn't have blown first place leads to the Phillies two years in a row.  Abreu would be a great fit that would work counts and get on base for the bigger bats, much as he did for the Yankees.

Milton Bradley, OF/DH:  Bradley's baggage can sometimes outweigh the promise of his bat.  However, the Blue Jays saw what happened last year with he Rays and are probably thinking there is no reason they can't push past the Red Sox and Yankees too.  After flirting with Frank Thomas and others who were not fit, the Blue Jays see in Bradley a bat that can hit for average and power.  He would be a nice addition to a Vernon Wells, Alexis Rios led lineup.  And, with a little bit more laid back media in Toronto, he will probably keep out of trouble.

Francisco Rodriguez, RP:  If the Mets let him go they are not fit to be in this league.  However, there are concerns about his future health as he has one of the more stressful deliveries I have ever seen.  That being said, the Mets are not built for the future, they are built to win next year.  K-Rod only furthers that cause.  The Mets can't be stupid enough to let him pass them by.  Can they?

Brian Fuentes, RP:  If the Mets don't sign K-Rod I think they will target Fuentes, if he is still on the market.  I doubt he will be as I think K-Rod's agent will wait until Fuentes is signed to see what he can get for his client.  Where or where will Fuentes go?  How about to the Tigers?  They need a closer and should have a bounce back season next year.  The Rays are another option as they will need a closer after Troy Percival didn't pan out as they had hoped.

Raul Ibanez, OF:  The Mets, once again should go after this guy.  He has been nothing but solid over the last few years.  He is not young but he is still a very serviceable player.  If the Mets don't feel like putting the money into Abreu then Ibanez would be a nice alternative.  The Cubs could also be a destination.

Brad Penny, SP:  Amazing how a pitcher with this resume has gone virtually unnoticed.  Any team that signs him will be very lucky as they will get a good pitcher with a few years left in him.  As for where he ends up?  Well, how about with the Cardinals who are only slightly removed from a World Series Championship and still have some horses to run in the NL Central race.  Another option would be for Penny to go to Toronto and team with Roy Halladay and make up for the loss of Burnett.  

Orlando Hudson, 2B:  If Mets GM Omar Minaya really wanted to make up for his mistake of giving Luis Castillo a long term deal he would be wise to give one to Hudson.  Hudson is one of the best second basemen in the game and is still improving.  I don't think Minaya will admit his mistake and will probably let a great second baseman fall through his grasp.  In the meantime, Hudson will probably head on over to the Cubs who can make room for him by shoving Ryan Theriot over to short or into a utility role.  The Cubs were interested in Brian Roberts last season so they could get a second bagger without giving anyone up.  Or, Hudson could go back to Arizona.

Ben Sheets, SP:  This has Texas written all over it if Sheets doesn't re-sign with the Brewers.  Sheets is a dominant pitcher, when healthy.  That is the key, though, when healthy.  I don't think he has been healthy for what seems like more than an inning.  He won't be getting Sabathia or Burnett money but his upside if he stays healthy will give him a decent paycheck.

Well, that is all for now.  I hope you enjoyed this course, C'mon back now ya hear!

Free Agent Feeding Frenzy

Let the games begin!  The 2008-09 Baseball offseason has officially begun with free agency opening up on Friday, November 14th.  this means teams will be able to find that one, or nine some cases, nine, guys that they need to be the next Philadelphia Phillies, or Tampa Bay Rays.  This offseason looks to be one of the most active in recent memory.  There are aces to be had, big bats to be gotten, and role players galore.  Trades will be made, and record contracts will be signed.  I can feel the excitement already.  Let's take a look at where I think some of these guys are going to go:

C.C. Sabathia, SP:  Yankees.  Everyone talks about his West Coast bias and his love for hitting.  Well, Mr. Sabathia loves food too.  And food costs money.  Don't forget we also have a bad economy right now which could make an extra few million seem like the world, especially with the prospect of taxes being raised.  Sabathia, who was already offered a 6 year deal by the Yankees at the time of this writing, will take the money, new ballpark, and chance for World Series glory over the chance to bat.  Plus, New York has some really nice restaurants.

Mark Teixiera, 1B:  Say hello to your new first baseman, Boston.  I know I might be reaching but there is now way I see Tex going for the hometown discount and signing with Baltimore or Washington.  Boston, needing an impact bat to offset David Ortiz's decline and Manny's absence will make a play for him.  Theo Epstein is no dummy.  He knows he's going to need offense, especially with Mike Lowell's hip being in question.  Shifting Kevin Youkilis to third, putting Tex at first and trading Lowell, or using him as a sub if no deal can be made, will make the Red Sox as strong as ever.  

A.J. Burnett, SP:  If the Yankees lose out on Sabathia they will open a vault for Burnett.  If they lose out on Burnett then Derek Lowe and luring Mike Mussina out of retirement (if chooses to do retire) will be priorities.  However, I see Burnett being lured to New York.  I think the Yankees walk away with the two top pitchers on the market.  Burnett loves the limelight, has World Series experience, and just posted his career best year.  He has a little tinge of Carl Pavano on him with his injury history but there is no way he becomes Pavano.  Will he miss starts?  Yes.  Will he be Pavano?  Nope.  Look for a lot of strikeouts, a lot of angst, and a World Series win in a crucial game for Mr. Burnett as the Yankees regain their form.

Derek Lowe, SP:  Welcome back to Boston, Mr. Lowe, we have the same room for you as your last stay.  Boston is worried about Schilling.  At this point they might be more worried he will try to pitch again more than him retiring.  Either way, Schilling is not the same as he was and Clay Buchholz didn't seem ready last year.  This means Epstein will probably bring back an AL East vet.

Jake Peavy, SP:  Not a free agent but certainly an ace.  Peavy has been on the block in San Diego where they might be going through another rebuilding phase after this last one didn't pan out.  The Cubs and Braves have been rumored destinations but those deals seem to be falling apart.  Where or where can Peavy go?  How about Los Angeles?  If he doesn't end up in Chicago I see the Dodgers sending some young talent away to make sure they have the ace they badly need.  Badly.  However, I do think Chicago is the answer for a package starting with Kosuke Fukodome.

Manny Ramirez, OF:  36 years old with a bad attitude and badder bat, and by badder I mean good.  Manny doesn't have many choices given his demands for $100 million over 4 years.  Most teams would rather offer 1 year, plus an option, or two and an option.  I wouldn't want to touch this guy with another teams payroll.  He is a powder keg.  About the only manager who he can get along with right now is Joe Torre.  Stay in LA, Manny, they love acts like yours out there.

More to come in the future...

A Class Act

Brendan Shanahan's career as a Ranger is finally over.  After an entire offseason of waiting for a contract that he was told might come that never did, Shanahan has decided to peddle his wares to the rest of the league.  Shanahan deserves a lot of credit here.  Athletes today seem to think it is all about them and that the spotlight is theirs and theirs alone.  Shanahan kept quiet and never once complained.  He has always been someone to look up to, both on and off the ice.  He will do doubt have a few suitors.  He does, after all, have 650 career goals and ranked third on the Rangers last season with 23 goals.  

I will miss Shanahan out there on the ice.  He was a hard worker, always skated hard, and put the team first.  They don't make them like him anymore.  Good luck to you Shanny.  You deserve only the best.  I hope you find a team that will celebrate your career as well as one that can use your services to the utmost.  I will admit it, I am sad to see you go but you do deserve a chance to play.

Pop-Ups, Screen Passes, and Slap Shots

Well, it seems our old friend Adam "Pacman" Jones has been a bad boy once again.  For those of you who don't know let's just say he drank too much and beat up his bodyguard while the man was taking a piss (why do they call it taking a piss when we are not actually taking a piss, we are leaving it).  Pacman received a lenient 4 game suspension from NFL Commish Roger Goodell.  Now, it appears he is looking into alcohol treatment centers.  I wonder if he is checking into the one that serves alcohol.  I can just imagine Pacman now sitting on his couch, thoroughly confused about why he got suspended and wondering why alcohol treatment centers don't have alcohol.  Some people just don't have any luck...or they are dumber than tackling dummies.

Congrats to the Phillies for becoming the team who will get beaten in the World Series.  All kidding aside, I wouldn't mind seeing them win to make Mets fans cry...again.

Remember when Michigan and Florida State were perennial powerhouses?  Well, Florida State might be making a comeback but I don't know if Michigan will be coming around any time soon.  Did they ever find a head coach?

The reason Reggie Bush has not become the game breaking back most thought he would be?  Well, Kim Kardashian comes to mind.  I wouldn't want to play football either if she were at home.  

If you turned off the Rays-Red Sox game, or if you left the game early, you missed a hell of a comeback.  I hate to admit it but the Red Sox don't know when to die.  They need to learn.  Teach 'em Rays.  Oh crap, who am I kidding.  That looks terrible.  The Rays?  Are we f-ing serious?  If the Red Sox come back in this series I am going to kick Pacman Jones in the balls when he is drunk and deal with the consequences.  Is this team even human?  Well, let me be cordial to all my Red Sox fan friends: go to hell!  Just kidding, but don't call me if the Red Sox win...no seriously.  I know Pacman and I will send him to your house with a case of 40's and tell him to wait until you're taking (or leaving) a leak.

It's been 15 minutes, did Pacman get suspended again?  Is he even sober yet?

OK, you're right, it is not nice to make fun of people with alcohol problems.  It's more fun to push them down when they're drunk or tell them Terry Francona just told them to go play shortstop.

Do you think the Roy Williams' on the Cowboys will pretend to be the other one and confuse Wade Phillips?  It's like the Olsen twins only they aren't twins, don't look alike, are not anorexic, and have the same name.  Oh, and they know nothing about Heath...nah, I'm not going there.

Doctors are baffled about Eddy Curry's illness.  What could have caused him to be so sick?  He woke up from the offseason and was still a Knick...with Stephon Marbury.  It is enough to make anyone ill.

The Major League Players Association says it can prove teams colluded on not signing Barry Bonds.  Those shocking reasons are age, legal troubles, steroids, and the desire to keep a clubhouse one room. I wish the MLBPA would open their eyes and realize Barry Bonds is over 40 years old and carries more baggage than Fed Ex.  Of course teams aren't going to sign him.  

The Yankees are rumored to be chasing Jake Peavy, the ace of the Padres who has a full no trade clause.  I think the Yankees are going to offer Ian Kennedy, Robinson Cano, and Melky Cabrera, and one other prospect.  Maybe even sub Phil Hughes for Ian.  Still, I don't think Peavy ends up a Yankee.  Instead, I see the Yankees re-signing Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte, and signing C.C. Sabathia or A.J. Burnett.  The Yankee rotation would be Sabathia or Burnett, Mussina, Joba Chamberlain, Pettitte, and Chien Ming Wang.  But who knows, I would love Peavy in Yankee Stadium.

I am so anxious for the start of the baseball offseason I am hoping the two teams in the World Series agree to decide the World Series by 7 games of Rock, Paper, Scissors.  I can't wait to see what old, out of shape players the Yankees are going to get this time around.  

The Rangers are off to a 5-1 start.  The only thing this means is they will probably make the playoffs.  I do like this team though.  they are younger, more athletic, and lot quicker.  There is also a drive there.  I have my sticks crossed.

I wonder who will be the number 1 team in the nation on Sunday.  Texas, the current #1, is taking on #5 Missouri.  Colt McCoy vs. Chase Daniel.  Ohhhh baBY!!!  Wouldn't it be something if Texas loses and Penn State wins big?  I don't think Penn St. has been ranked number one at any time since Joe Jurevicius was catching passes there.  Should be interesting.

There is no truth to the rumor (the one I am starting right now) that Drew Bledsoe will suit up for Washington State's game against USC this Saturday.  If he did I am sure it would be a larger spread than the 41 it is now.

Jon Kitna says the Lions are using his back injury as an excuse to bench him.  No, Jon, the Lions suck and you stink too.  

Speaking of the Lions, I wonder if they will use two first round picks this year on wide receivers.

Finally, there is a reason for me to hate Barry Uhbama even more than I already do...he is postponing the start of Game 6 of the World Series so he can air his "Barry Wants Your Vote" infomercial.  I prefer to call it a 30 minute lieathon.  Well, it is really just an excuse for me to do something productive instead of watching the World Series.

Taking a Step Back, Taking a Breath and Recharging for 2009

Baseball season is officially over.  The 2008 baseball season marked the death of most dominant team in baseball in the free agent era.  I, as many Yankee fans have in recent weeks, have contemplated how the Yankees will get back on their horse and charge ahead into another dominant run.  As much as I have railed against Brian Cashman and the Yankee leadership on the field I am now calm and have taken this hiatus to form my thoughts and regain my sensibilities.  So, now that I am calm allow me to share my more rational thoughts with you on how I think the Yankees can regain their dominant self.

The Yankees have a lot of money coming off the books in 2009 and they would be wise to let most of it go.  I am not much of a fan of Bobby Abreu making $15 million at 35 years old.  As much as Xavier Nady has been a gritty, gutsy player, the Yankees have left themselves with little choice but to play Nady in right and let Abreu go.  That is a lot of walks going out the window right there but I think Nady's defense is better.  There were times I cringed when I saw Abreu tracking down fly balls in right field.  Nady is cheaper, is under contract, is younger, and proved he can help shoulder an offensive load in New York with both the Mets and Yankees.  Nady is my right fielder for better or worse.

The catching situation kind of blew up in the Yankees face this year.  Jorge's shoulder finally blew out and it cost him all but 51 games.  this is not what the Yankees were expecting from one of their cornerstones, even if he is a 36 year old catcher.  I was a little wary about giving Posada a 4 year deal but he was deserving of it as much as anyone so it was easy to overlook.  Posada still has a finger on the pulse of this team but I think his days behind the plate are just about done.  At the same time, I don't think he can hack it as an everyday first baseman.  Posada should split time between catcher and DH, assuming of course that his shoulder is healthy for catching.  Jose Molina proved himself to be one of the finest defensive catchers in the game and was adept at handling a mish-mash pitching staff.  These qualities make up for what he lacks in everyday offensive output.  With Chad Moeller, Chris Stewart, and other younger options hanging around the minors I think the Yankees can afford to go with Molina and Posada and if injuries hit again patch up a hole with a retread a la this past season.

First base is in need of an upgrade.  Don Mattingly, Tino Martinez, and Jason Giambi.  Well, until Giambi defense was a priority at this position.  Watching Giambi play first was somtimes amazing (we all wondered how he made a certain play every now and then) while at the same time watching lions feed on helpless antelope.  He was terrible in the field.  His bat has slowed but et he still can't hit to left field unless by accident.  Giambi has run his course with the Yankees and it is time for the Yankees to invest in some youth and some defense.  Enter Mark Teixiera.  The Yankees need to make him their #1 priority, not C.C. Sabathia (I will explain this in a minute).  

The offensive decline of Robinson Cano was one of baseball's great mysteries this season.  The guy went from .300+ to barely hitting .260.  He doesn't walk enough to offset this drop-off in offensive production.  I had read warnings from professional scouts that warned against this stuff but I chose to ignore it, as I was warm and comfy in the .300 comfort blanket.  The Yankees would be wise to shop Cano, maybe for a starting pitcher if the need arises or for another second baseman.  I heard Brian Roberts' name mentioned but I don't know if I like him in the long run.  If he is traded for pitching I don't know who works into second.  Wilson Betemit has not proven much but he was never really given a shot either.  Maybe the best option would be to get Cano some instruction over the winter on the strike zone.  It also might behoove the Yankees to tell him to stay away from the partying at night.

The outfield situation with the Yankees is insane.  No true center fielder, no everyday left fielder, and a right fielder who had a good season split between the Pirates and Yankees.  Oh, what a mess. Johnny Damon was very good this season, hitting over .300 and coming through several times in the clutch.  He has one more year on his contract and I think the Yanks can get by with him in left in a platoon.  Hideki Matsui, the Japanese Iron Horse finally broke down.  His knees, after years of wear and tear failed him.  He still can hit but I don't think he can handle the field anymore on a regular basis.  The Yankees should have traded him this offseason for Noah Lowry, who despite being lost for the season would offer more hope as a 28 year old pitcher coming off of injury than a 35 year old somewhere fielder with bad knees.  Perhaps it is not too late to see what the Yankees can get for Matsui.  Perhaps someone will take him off their hands.

While the rebuilding process is underway it might be prudent for the Yankees to approach Derek Jeter and see what the options are in the not too distant future.  A move to the outfield in a year or two would make sense for all involved.  I would let him play shortstop in the inaugural season at the new Yankee Stadium but not much beyond.  Jeter, as Captain, has to take the lead and see he is not helping by staying there until he is buried there.  The process should begin now and a transition going on over a couple of years would benefit everyone, Jeter especially.

Alex Rodriguez isn't going anywhere no matter what anyone thinks of him.  He seems to be one of these guys that has a great year followed by a down year.  Aside from hitting in the clutch this was actually a decent year for A-Rod.  He hit over .300 (as of this post) and was second in home runs in the AL.  He also missed time with injury.  If his recent track record is any indicator he will bounce back big time next season.  Having a Mark Teixiera in the lineup next season would greatly improve A-Rod's bounce back chances.

Melky Cabrera was awful this season.  He went down the same road Cano went down and regressed big time.  Melky could barely hit above .230 for much of the season and earned himself a much delayed demotion to AAA.  Nothing Melky did this season was done correctly, or even with a touch of luck.  If he hit the ball hard it would be right at someone.  More often than not, however, the ball was often hit on the ground for a double play.  Brett Gardner was brought up in his place and showed signs of being a very good center fielder and base stealer.  Gardner is always a slow starter at every level, the majors being no exception.  I expect he will light it up in Spring Training, hitting above .300 and earn the center fielder spot where he will go on to hit .280+ next season while drawing more walks in a week than Melky did in 2 years.  Gardner doesn't hit home runs but he will be standing on 3rd base an awful lot and his speed changes the dynamic of a game. 

The starting pitching, which was supposed to carry the Yankees into the future, hit a major road block.  Joba Chamberlain was juggled between the bullpen and rotation and back to the bullpen after some shoulder tendinitis put him on the shelf for a spell.  I say Joba is a starter and the Yankees need to leave him in one role.  There are enough relievers and options in the bullpen.  Joba is an ace, period.  You don't put Johan Santana in the bullpen because he pitches well.  Leave Joba in the rotation, let his arm adjust to it, or rather readjust to it as he was a starter all his Yankee career until last year.

Cut Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy some slack.  These kids had enormous expectations thrust upon them based on a half season of work.  Phil Hughes was the youngest pitcher in the big leagues this year when he was on the mound.  Injuries cut his season mercifully short but he did pitch much better in his first game back from the DL.  Ian Kennedy was the guy with no luck this season.  He was the victim of tiny strike zones early on and was forced to put the ball over the plate.  The result was a lack of confidence.  The stuff is there and I think he will be a very good 3rd or 4th starter.  He just needs some time to develop but he will be a Yankee for years to come.  

C.C. Sabathia is the target of many teams desires.  However, I am getting more alarmed at his size and increasing workload on his arm.  Last year he pitched a career high in innings, especially in the playoffs, and got off to a dreadful start.  The Brewers are seemingly riding this horse into the playoffs come hell of high water.  It is likely to take close to $200 million to secure Sabathia, a hefty price for a hefty arm.  He is building a house on the West Coast and I think the Dodgers and Angels will make huge plays for him with him finally deciding on the Dodgers.  The Yanks will be wise to stay away from him... of course I could be wrong.  Nah.

Bid with caution on the rest of the pitching market.  A.J. Burnett, Ben Sheets, Ryan Dempster, and Oliver Perez forming a high-risk, high reward group.  Let's not forget that Chien Ming Wang is coming back so an additional 12 wins can be penciled in over Sidney Ponson or Darrell Rasner.  Those 12 wins mean a playoff berth for the Yanks this season.  The Yankees, right now, could field a 2009 rotation of Joba Chamberlain, Chien Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy or Andy Pettitte, and Carl Pavano.  Yes, I said Carl Pavano.  Pavano is similar to every pitcher on the market this year.  He has a long injury history, like Burnett and Sheets, and has won 18 games, like Burnett has done this season.  Pavano, when healthy, has shown he can pitch a little at the back end of a rotation.  When compared to what Sheets and Burnett would cost (also factoring in draft picks), Pavano and his $11 million option are relatively cheap.  If the Yankess re-sign Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte, they could pick up Pavano's option and let Hughes and/or Kennedy develop one more season, unmolested and without pressure in AAA.  Believe it or not $11 million for Pavano and his high risk/high reward makes more sense than Burnett and Sheets and their $23 million high risk/high reward.  

Still scared by Pavano?  Well, Humberto Sanchez made his major league debut in September.  you might remember him as the main piece of the Gary Sheffield trade.  He is now recovered from Tommy John surgery and could make an impact next year as a bullpen guy or spot starter.  He might need a year of polishing in AAA but he should contribute soon.

I'll get into free agency and the Yankees more in another blog.  Let me leave you with a list of prospects to watch in 2009, some of whom might make the team out of Spring Training:

Austin Jackson, CF: Needs a year at AAA, the best athlete in the Yanks' system.  Could be a mid-season call up or even make the team out of ST, like he almost did last season.

Humberto Sanchez, P:  Fully recovered, will build up arm strength at AAA before Cashman and Girardi find a spot for him.

Andrew Brackman, P:  6'10" of pure pitching hell.  This guy hit 100 MPH on the gun before Tommy John surgery KO'd his first pro season.  He could be an ace or future closer.  Scouts are high on him.

Phil Coke, P:  Could he finally be the answer to years of searching for a viable lefty out of the pen?

Francisco Cervelli, C:  His year was cut short by injury but the Yankees are high on him, high enough to call him up in September of this year to give him a taste.

Pat Venditte, P:  This guy became a YouTube sensation because he pitches from both sides, lefty and righty.  He also pitches from both sides well.  In 32.2 innings he posted a 0.83 ERA and 23 saves at Staten Island.  Not a bad start.  I wonder if he would need to go on the DL if one arm got hurt or if he would just switch.  I love bionic pitchers!

Dellin Betances, P:  This tower of a kid struck out 135 batters in 115.1 innings.  Could be a factor in a couple of years.  Only 20 years old.

Jeff Marquez, P:  His move to AAA didn't go as planned.  He did rebound at AA and could factor in with the 2009 Yankees if injuries hit again.

YANKEES IN 2009 and BEYOND!

Goodbye Yankee Stadium

The 2008 baseball season, the final one at historic Yankee Stadium, looks to be just about done for the New York Yankees.  With 30 games remaining and the Yankees 7 games behind the Red Sox in the Wild Card it looks as if the Yankees will not make the playoffs for the first time since 1993.  This is a sad time in Yankee history.  With the Old Ballpark set to close this season it seems as if the Yankees turned the lights out a tad too early.  

Since 1996, the Yankees were about as synonymous with winning as any franchise in sports.  The pressure to keep up those winning ways might have, in fact, sunk the Yankees this season.  The Yankees have, by far, baseball's highest payroll.  This can be attributed to bad contracts such as Jason Giambi, Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa, Bobby Abreu, Hideki Matsui, and even Alex Rodriguez have put the Yankees over the top while limiting the identity of the team.  There are no scrappers like there were in the late 1990's.  There is no Tim Raines type who is a team first guy.  There is no Paul O'Neill to smash a water cooler to loosen up the team when times are bad.  There is no veteran leadership.  Derek Jeter, the Captain of the Yankees, is failing at his job.  His boring, unemotional comments after bad losses is tired and old.  It seems the Yankees machine has turned Jeter into an all-business, no emotion robot who is programmed with the same answers.  I hate to say it, but Alex Rodriguez has shown more emotion lately and as well he should.  He has had a horrid season worthy of a refund.  Speaking of refunds, Jason Giambi should personally apologize to every fan.  A $20 million professional hitter, a former MVP, who can't hit to left field unless by accident.  Wow!  I truly have seen everything.  

This brings me to Brian Cashman, the architect of this slop of a team.  I know you saw the writing you put on the wall Brian.  Why else would you all of a sudden commit to a youth movement with a team this old?  You misled your fanbase by telling them you were going to trim payroll, make the roster more flexible.  Well, the roster certainly has flexed.  Your use of the 60 day DL and the 40 man roster is dizzying.  It almost seemed that once things began to turn sour, Mr. Cashman, you hit the panic button and lost all semblance of a plan.  Why else would you bring Carl Pavano back to the major leagues?  Why else would you play eeney, meeney, miney, moe with the catching situation after Jorge Posada, the man you gave a $46 million contract to at age 36, went down with a bum shoulder?  Why is it that almost every other team can get service out of their pitching staff, with the exception of the Rangers, but you can't?  MMM, yeah, good answer, Brian.  The blame can't rest on George Steinbrenner for this mess.  No sir, the blame rests right on your head, Cashman.  You are the one that thought Carl Pavano would be of some service at any point.  As I recall, the Mariners were willing to take on Pavano last year.  Great idea!  Oh wait, you decided Pavano would be your Opening Day starter.  Boy, am I thankful about that!

Well, I can't blame for Cashman for all of the ills that this team has come down with.  The media, who need to stay on the good side of the Yankees to maintain a working relationship won't tell you the truth.  The truth is the Yankees have stunk from the get-go.  Derek Jeter got off to a slow start and seemed to hit into a double play every time up with the game on the line.  Alex Rodriguez seemed to be Derek's doppleganger this season only with more power and more strikeouts.  Robinson Cano proved how vulnerable a free-swinging kid can be at the plate.  when he is on, Cano is one of the best.  Sadly, I have seen blind church mice with better plate vision.  Jason Giambi has been an albatross in some fashion ever since he was signed to a contract the Yankees should have torn up long ago.  Jorge Posada finally broke down.  It was bound to happen.  He was probably the most used catcher in baseball over the last half-decade.  Of course, when your backup is Wil Nieves and company I would have hesitated to sit you too during that time frame.  Melky Cabrera lost his zeal for the game.  Sure, he looks like he has fun after a game, but during it he was awful.  He should have been benched or sent down to the minors long ago.  Joe Girardi doesn't escape blame either.  So much for the ability to read a game.  Girardi struggled to find a rhythm with this team.  He seemed to be afraid to take risks.  There was too little bunting, especially after it was discovered this team could not hit with runners on.  I also blame Girardi for this blind faith that he, and many others had, that the Yankees were going to someday, someway wake up and put it all together.  Well, it was his job to make sure it happened and it never did.  I am not asking for Girardi to be fired but rather to fire it up.  There is nothing wrong with being a fiery leader as he was in Florida.  Yell at players for not hustling.  Sit players who don't listen.  Take risks when the situation calls for it.  And, for God sakes, make sure your entire team knows how to hit to all fields and bunt!  The players get paid to win, not pad their stats.  

Yes, 2008 will go down as one of the saddest seasons in recent memory.  There is one more year for the Yankees to redeem themselves.  This offseason should be one of the richest in free agent pitching in many years.  C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets, and possibly A.J. Burnett headline a nice class.  The Yankees need to make a huge coup early in free agency.  They need to sign two of those three.  The Yankees rotation next year should look like this:  Sabathia, Chien Ming Wang, Ben Sheets, Joba Chamberlain, and Mike Mussina.  It is evident that Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy need a full year of triple A under their belts to work out some kinks.  They will be able to provide depth in case of injury and will be able to step right in, hopefully, when Mussina retires.  (For those of you who are wondering about Pettitte, I think he is retiring at the end of this season).  

The lineup also needs an overhaul.  Thankfully, the Yankees will have money coming off the books with some hideous contracts finally expiring.  A full court press should be made on Mark Texieria if he hits the market.  I doubt he will sign though.  However, that is not bad news.  There is a possibility Hank Blalock might become a free agent and he would be cheaper.  He would just need to accept the move from third base.  Elevating Juan Miranda who has had a good season at AAA would be another option, as would moving Xavier Nady over to first.  Joe Crede is also a free agent and might be convinced to save his back and move to first.  The Yankees need to allow Brett Gardner and Justin Christian chances tow in spots on this roster.  If one of them has a huge spring training then the Yankees might be able to package Melky and Ian Kennedy for a better bat.  

The Yankees need to do a quick turnaround here.  They have one offseason to do it.  They need to put a winning, championship-contending team on the field, while staying committed to bringing up the youth that served them so well recently and in the 1990's.  Cashman had better get it right this time around.  If not his job should be taken from him.  In the mean time I will be hoping the Yankees finally see the light that it really is the pitching stupid, and build around it.  Oh, and that the three-run home run thing is vastly overrated.

No Answer

It has been about a week now since I sent my email letter to Jeremy Ruby of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and there is still no answer.  I guess he is too busy to answer his customers concerns.  Obviously this is indicative of the way people are treated with this team.  I am one step closer to getting rid of my tickets.  Time is running out for them.  I will resend my letter with an update in these coming days and see where this goes.  

Letter to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees

The following is the letter I sent to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees' Jeremy Ruby.  He was the highest person on the ladder with an email address.  I will post any response I get on here as well.  Well, here it is:

Mr. Ruby,

My name is Chris Gamble and I have been a season ticket holder with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees since the beginning (granted that isn't that long ago).  I have supported the team as best as I can and have not been let down, until this past Saturday, August 16th.  I bought 16 tickets to the Legends Game through your organization.  My group and I were expecting a fun day of baseball and a chance to relive a great season in Yankee history.  What we got was a severe disappointment.  Not only was it a five inning game (understandable considering the age of some of the players) but most of the players could not play the entire game and were replaced by what appeared to be local high school kids.  This was not worth the $30 admission.  I was also told that the players would not do a formal autograph session but would be "highly encouraged to sign autographs and interact with the fans."  This turned out to be a joke.  Access to the players was extremely limited and when Goose Gossage set up an autograph table in the Coors Light Pavilion I was denied entry.  I, along with a lot of other fans, attempted to get autographs of the players as they left but instead got the cold shoulder.  I had a 9 year old girl with my group who was so excited to try and meet one of the players.  All she got was disappointment as the sheriff deputies yelled at her for standing on a sidewalk outside the stadium.  She was not alone in being yelled at, and or verbally abused by these deputies.  I overheard these so-called law enforcement professionals make fun of the fans, tell us we had to go home immediately, and yell at fans about where to stand, what to do and when to do it.  These men were hardly professional as they were seen by myself, and several other fans, obtaining autographs from the very players the paying public came to see.  I do not appreciate being treated like a criminal, nor do I appreciate being treated like a piece of dog excrement by the people who are supposed to protect the general public.  The actions of those deputies was well beyond anything that was necessary.  I did not serve in Iraq fighting the Global War on Terror only to be treated like a terrorist at your park.  

I know this was not your event and that you are not responsible for the actions of the deputies but it was hosted at your facility and manned by your staff.  You should be alert as to how your paying season ticket holders are treated.  Several other regular season ticket holders and I had discussed our various experiences of that day and not a single one was happy.  We paid a high price, $30, got treated poorly, and didn't even get what we paid for, which is a 5 inning game between Red Sox and Yankee players, not high school kids.  You might want to explain this to the sponsors of the event the next time they use your park and advertise on your website.  This is your team and your team has a good history of treating fans well.  I have always had a good time at your park.  Some of my best baseball experiences have come at PNC Field.  All of this has been negated by the 16th of August.  I am seriously considering dropping my season tickets because of this.  I do not want to be subjected to abuse from the sheriff deputies stationed around your park.  I do not want to feel like I was robbed by co-sponsors of events you host.  

I hope that you will take action on these matters.  I look forward to any response you might have regarding this matter.  These are your fans that were treated like this, the same fans that helped your team break attendance records last year.  Thank you for your time and courtesy in this matter.  I look forward to hearing back from you.  Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Chris Gamble

Mistreatment at the Legends Game

On Saturday, August 16th, I attended a Legends Game at PNC Field that saw nine members of the 1978 Red Sox take on nine members of the 1978 Yankees.  Tickets for this event were $30 and were being sold through the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, though they claim to have had no part in this event.  When I purchased the tickets for the event I was told there would be no formal autograph session but that the players would be encouraged to interact with the fans and sign autographs.  I also was not told that the game would only be 5 innings.  I had to find that out much later, after my tickets had arrived.

Even upon finding out that it would not be a 9 inning game I still held onto the belief that this event, hosted by the Times-Tribune, would be fan-friendly.  Boy, was I wrong.  The players did not sign many autographs, with some players completely ignoring the fans altogether.  Not only did we, the paying public, get fleeced for $30 but the players didn't play the entire 5 innings.  Some of the guys took time off and were replaced by kids.    This was a slap in the face because we, the customers, did not get what we paid for.  

The Times-Tribune should be ashamed of itself for sponsoring the event.  The sheriff deputies that pulled security for this event were bordering on abusive.  They shouted at fans to stay away from certain areas outside the park which fans usually access after games for autographs.  At one point me and the group I was with were told we had to leave the sidewalk that is in front of the stadium.  We were walking, talking, and trying to find out where and what to do next.  Well, the deputies apparently made it illegal to stand on sidewalks in Moosic after Legends games.  I was appalled at this.  First off, my car was on the other side and I would have had to cross this "sensitive area" to get to my car.  How can this police officer tell me I can't walk there?  This pisses me off more than anything.  I fought for my country, went over o Iraq to fight the Global War on Terror.  I did not do this to be treated like Osama bin Laden's cousin.  I am not a terrorist.  The next time I am treated like one I fear I might explode.  (There is a side story involving my attendance with Tracy at a Yankee game on the 17th of August and a camera bag.)  

These cops, by the way, were seen getting autographs from the players for themselves.  I think that is piss poor professionalism, locking out the general public and then getting autographs for yourself.  Speaking of locking out the public, Goose Gossage was signing autographs at a table in the Coors Light Pavilion of PNC Field.  This was not a scheduled event and as far as I can tell it was just Goose being courteous to his fans who paid good money to see him.  However, PNC Field Staff quickly locked the gates, making the only entrance/exit back inside the stadium.  I attempted to go this way, actually getting inside the stadium again only to have my entry blocked by PNC Field staff telling us there was no entry.  I couldn't help but wonder how all the people behind him got past him.  Surely he could see the tens upon tens of people walking around behind him.  Later, I found out through another fan that when security got tired they began telling people they needed a ticket to be in the Coors Light Pavilion.  Some people were even kicked out from the line to get Goose's autograph.  Just a terrible way to treat the fans who paid for this event.  

I could understand if this was a game that counted for something, or there actually was a security risk.  But these guys were retired and would fade into obscurity if it were for fans willing to pay $30 to see them play an exhibition game.  This was purely a money grab set up by the Times-Tribune, PNC Field, and the other sponsors of this event.  After the game, one could meet the players.  Well, only if they paid $200 for a "Meet the Players" party held at Mohegan Sun.  Mohegan Sun, for those of you that don't know, is a gambling institution.  I don't know if children would be allowed into this event but if I were a parent I would not want them to be exposed to that environment.  Also, only the very well off can afford $200 tickets.  This was another way to stick it to the average fan.  Sadly, average fans just seem to roll over and take it these days.  Well, this is one fan who refuses to roll over anymore.  I will soon be sending in a formal complaint to the SWB Yankees.  I will keep you posted as to the outcome of that complaint.  I am betting it gets shoved under the rug and I give up my season tickets.  At this rate, they can have them.

Fielding the Team of my Dreams

After some thought and deliberation I have come up with the baseball team I would field if I were a GM.  Obviously, since this is a fantasy, there is no money involved.  After all, who puts a price on their dreams...unless the dream is winning $100 million.  Well, here it is, only current players are on here and a full 25 man roster is listed:

C:  Geovany Soto - Ok, so sometimes it is easy picking the best guy at the position.  His youth and talent make him one of the few franchise cornerstones found at the catchers position in the game today.  

1B:  Mark Teixeira - Glove and offense.  He kind of reminds me of Don Mattingly back when Mattingly was one of the best in the game.  Teixeira is one of the best to come along in years.  He is quiet about it too which I like.

2B:  Robinson Cano - OK, so he has no idea what a walk is but this kid can rake.  In a bit of an off year but how can someone pass on a guy with this much talent?  He is also stellar in the field giving many the impression of Roberto Alomar or Carlos Baerga.  Besides, how do you pass up such a well rounded offensive talent for the bottom of your lineup?

3B:  Alex Rodriguez - The best player in the game.  Some say he is not clutch but I still remember all those homers in the 9th and beyond last year as vividly as his strikeouts and double plays.  Besides, I think A-Rod gets a bad rap for the most part.  Sure, he hasn't been A-Rod but in the series against LA in 2005, you know the one where he was blamed for the Yankees loss for hitting 0 homers and batting .133 he had an OBP of .381.  He walked 6 times that series meaning he was on base and other people didn't drive him in.  He has no excuse for the Detroit series in 2006 but no Yankee does.  I'll take A-Rod and his bat and glove.A-Rod rounding bases after another home run.

SS:  Derek Jeter - OK, obvious choice but how do you turn down The Captain?  Nobody is classier and few are as good all around as Jeter.  Even in an off year like this year he is still batting .280+ and winning games.  

LF:  Curtis Granderson - Jimmy Rollins won the NL MVP based upon his 20-20-20 season but Granderson hardly got noticed with his 20-20-20 season.  He is a great player to have and one of the most exciting in the game.  Injuries robbed him of a breakout year this year but it coming.  Yes I am saying he is going to get better.

CF:  Josh Hamilton - One of my all-time favorite players.  This guy could .280 with 15 homers and 70 RBI and I would still love watching him play.  The energy and joy he displays are contagious.  Plus, his story is amazing and inspirational.  He seems like the anti-Strawberry.  I hope he stays that way.

RF:  Xavier Nady - This guy is now my favorite Yankee.  I always respected this guy from when he was with the Mets but he has opened my eyes since joining the Yankees.  He has not shrunk from pressure.  He makes very nice plays in the field and has become a bit of an extra-base machine.  He is also 4th in the majors right now (combined BA from Pirates and Yanks) in batting average.  The X-Man is my pick.

The X-Man, Xavier Nady.

DH: David Ortiz - Since I am an AL fan I get a DH.  Not the hitter he was a couple of years ago as age, weight, and health seem to be robbing him of monster numbers.  Still, I love Ortiz's respect for the game.  He is professional yet personable.  He clowns around and has fun and is always smiling.  I, as a Yankee fan, hate the Red Sox but I can't deny the passion Ortiz ahs for the game.  I cna't help but wonder what would have been if the Yankees had done the smart things and signed him after he was released by the Twins.

SP:  Joba Chamberlain - On top of his potential I love his personality.  Like Ortiz he is always smiling and goofing off but is very respectful of the game.  He is going to be, barring injury (I have to say that now that he is on DL) one of the greatest to put on Pinstripes.Joba's famous fist-pump.

SP:  Brandon Webb - The best sinker-baller in the game.  He amazes me every time I watch highlights.

SP:  Mike Mussina - If this guy doesn't know how to pitch then nobody does.  I am a huge closet Mussina fan.  I thought he was done and I am so happy to be wrong.  This guy is one of the smartest around.

Mussina delivers.

SP:  Rich Harden - I could care less about the injuries.  If he is healthy you have the best pitcher in baseball.  If he isn't, you have the best pitcher on the DL.

SP:  Felix Hernandez - Only 21 and already a hitters worst nightmare.  This guy is a lot of fun to watch and the sick thing is he is only getting better.  Has middle of the road numbers, ok so it is the high road, on baseballs crappiest team.  Would love to see him in a Yankee uniform.

Closer:  Mariano Rivera - I'm going with the best ever at this position.  There is nobody I would rather see on the mound with the season on the line, unless of course I was the hitter.

RP:  Scot Shields - I can't believe he is not mentioned more in the conversation of best set-up man.  Consistent and reliable.  Oh, and damn good.

RP:  Chad Bradford - Amazing how he is basically a journeyman.  His numbers tell the story, consistent and reliable.  His motion makes him look like a gimmick but his pitching tells another story.  

RP:  Matt Lindstrom - Throws 100 MPH and knows where it is going.  With the Marlins after being traded for Carlos Delgado.  Can you say Scott Kazmir anyone?

RP:  Edwar Ramirez - Not the best at what he does but I do love watching his change make hitters look like fools.

RP:  Jon Rauch - One word sums him up: reliable.  

Bench:  

       C:  Chris Coste - I like thie way he approaches the game.

      CI:  Evan Longoria - He is about two seconds away from becoming my starting 3B which would move A-Rod to short and Jeter to DH.

     MI:  Yunel Excobar - The perfect compliment to any roster.  Versatile and a very god hitter.

     OF:  Justin Christian - An odd choice, I know, but I like the way he approaches the game.  Fast and always ready, Christian gets the nod for his pinch-running ability and all around ability to help anywhere in the OF.

     UT:  Chone Figgins - Where doesn't he play.  I swear, sometime I see him pitch, scoop the ground ball and throw to himself at first.  He is Mr. Everything.  Fun to watch and good at what he does.  

Let me know who you would pick for your team.  Have some fun with it.  Don't like my team?  Don't worry I'll be coming up with another soon.  I look forward to hearing from all of you.  Keep swinging for those fences.  Corny, I know but I don't care.

Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium

This past Saturday, August 2, 2008, I was able to attend an event I had always wanted to see, Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium.    I was not disappointed.  The ceremonies were delayed a bit by downpours of rain but once they began the sun broke through and nothing could stop Yankee Stadium from honoring 72 of its former players and four widows of Yankee greats.  Players from the last 16 Championship teams were represented and no other team in baseball can bring a collection of legends and champions like the Yankees did.

What really interested me was all the Yankees from the teams I grew up watching.  Willie Randolph, Dave Winfield, Jesse Barfield, Rickey Henderson, Steve Balboni, Pat Kelly, Dave Eiland, Kevin Maas, Paul O'Neill, David Wells, David Cone, Wade Boggs, Mike Stanley, Jimmy Key, Graeme Lloyd, Ramiro Mendoza, Tony Fernandez, Jim Abbott, Jeff Nelson Tim Raines, Tino Martinez, Wayne Tolleson, Goose Gossage, Don Baylor, and a bunch of others were all there from the teams I watched as a kid.  There were also legends galore, from Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, Reggie Jackson, Graig Nettles, Moose Skowron, Jerry Coleman, Bobby Richardson, Don Larsen,  and others all got one more chance in the Yankee Stadium spotlight.  

No other team can honor history the way the Yankees can and that was in full view on Saturday.  Even the widows of Phil Rizzuto, Thurman Munson, Elston Howard, and Jim "Catfish" Hunter were honored.  To see these men, some still looking like they did in their playing days, standing along the first and third base lines, donning Yankee pinstripes one more time in the most famous Stadium in sports was touching and absolutely amazing.  

I have to thank Tracy and her mom for the tickets to this amazing event.  Thank you!!  

I will post pictures once I have figured out how to include pics on this site.

Pudge Behind the Plate

Ivan Rodriguez a New York Yankee.  There were many times in the 1990's and early 2000's that I wished that would come true.  Don't get me wrong, I loved Jorge Posada and think he will take his place as one of the greatest Yankee catchers of all time.  However, Pudge is Pudge.  Now, that dream has finally come true.  Ivan Rodriguez is now a New York Yankee.  And, to make it even better, all it cost was Kyle Farnsworth.  That is right, this is not a typo.  Kyle Farnsworth was traded for Ivan Rodriguez.  

With the season-ending injury to Jorge Posada, the Yankees needed to improve their catching situation.  Jose Molina has been filling in very well but his offense is lacking.  However, his defense has been amazing.  Chad Moeller is a career backup and is not the answer.  The Yankees needed some pop at this position.  Rodriguez brings exactly that.  Through 82 games this season, Pudge was hitting .295 with 5 homers and 32 RBI's.  His defense isn't what it once was but it is still among the games best.  

Pudge will help with the Yankee offense, be able to handle the Yankee pitchers, and will fill-in admirably for the injured Posada.  Adding Pudge will improve the Yankee lineup three-fold.  Imagine a lineup that looks like this:

C  Ivan Rodriguez

1B Jason Giambi/Richie Sexson

2B Robinson Cano

3B Alex Rodriguez

SS Derek Jeter

LF Johnny Damon/Xavier Nady

CF Melky Cabrera

RF Bobby Abreu

DH Xavier Nady/Giambi/Damon/Sexson

Not a bad lineup if you ask me.  GM Brian Cashman did an excellent job.  The bullpen has been a strength for the Yankees all season.  Adding Damaso Marte last week and Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras emerging has given the Yankees the flexibility to turn Joba Chamberlain into a starter, release LaTroy Hawkins, and deal Farnsworth.  Give Cashman all the credit here.  He has done an excellent job of fortifying a team that seems to be on another second-half run.  I know I have been down on Cashman lately but I have to give him his due, he has done an excellent job.  This deal also doesn't put the Yankees in a payroll bind for next season either as Pudge is eligible for free agency after this season.  This means the Yankees will still have almost $80 million coming off the books next season.

As for the Jarrod Washburn deal, the Mariners are being foolish.  Suddenly they think Washburn is C.C. Sabathia.  According to ESPN.com and SI.com, the Mariners approached an NL team and asked for two of their top prospects for Washburn.  This is a far cry from reports late last week and early this week that had Washburn being traded to the Yankees for a marginal prospect.  Recently the Mariners asked for Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner in return for Washburn.  That is a little much when you take into consideration the Mariners expect the Yankees to take on Washburn's full contract.  That, by the way, is $14 million.  A little much if you ask me when you consider the price they want in return player-wise.  Cashman is right in not pulling the trigger on this deal.  Phil Hughes, Chien Ming Wang, and even Carl Pavano (not that I'm counting on him to do anything) are all coming back from injury soon.  There is also Ian Kennedy who has been impressive in his minor league stint lately.  All are equal or greater than Washburn and all are cheaper.  

Here come the Yankees!

Manny being Manny....

So the Red Sox are finally tired of Manny Ramirez, or is it vice versa?  Manny Ramirez, whose antics and the Red Sox allowance of said antics coined the phrase "Manny being Manny", recently said he wants out of Boston.  Surprised?  You shouldn't be.  When the Red Sox gave Manny Ramirez a 10 year, $168 million dollar deal they knew whom they were getting.  They knew Manny was a cantankerous little trouble maker.  By allowing Manny Ramirez to dog it on certain days, to act out like a little child, and to blast management on occasion, the Red Sox effectively sold their souls to please a future Hall of Famer.  

Manny being Manny only meant they were making an excuse for Ramirez.  It was okay if he took time off with a mysterious injury.  It is no big deal if he assaults a 62 year-old man, traveling secretary Jack McCormick, for not getting him 20+ tickets to a sold out game only a few hours before the start of the game versus the Astros.  The Red Sox created this monster, fed it, and nurtured it. Now they have to deal with it.

Should the Red Sox really be surprised by the dread-locked monster trying to take a big bite of the team?  They shouldn't be.  Manny is coming to the end of his contract.  There are two option years left for the Red Sox to pick up if they so desire.  Each of these years is for $20 million.  Obviously if the Red Sox pick up next season's option they are crazier than anyone thought.  However, can they afford to let Manny walk?  For a team that is now a perennial World Series contender they can't afford to let him walk away for nothing.    The two first round draft picks they would get if he were to walk via free agency might not be enough in return.  They would need some major league talent in return in order to maintain their World Series hopes.  Now comes the tough part.

How do the Red Sox put together a trade?  This would be one of the most complicated trades ever put together.  First, Manny is a 10 and 5 player which means he has veto power in any trade.  That means he will have to be happy with where he goes.  Second, the Red Sox will need to receive enough back in a trade to make it worth their while and be able to stay in contention.  This means no trading Manny to the Mets for a bunch of B-level prospects.  The most likely scenario is probably going to be Manny staying on the Red Sox and playing out the year and the Sox dealing with the situation at the end of the year.  I wouldn't be surprised if the Red Sox actually re-sign Money Ramirez, I mean Manny.  It might have to do with something in the contract with devil the Red Sox signed where Manny has to be a Red Sox until he is 50, or 100.  

I am just happy that everyone is now seeing Manny for what he is.  He is not a fun-loving character.  Instead, he is a selfish, self-centered, greedy SOB whose act wore thin on me when he was an Indian.  This is the same Manny Ramirez that was put on waivers a couple of years ago and passed through every team in baseball.  Manny is unhappy with a $20 million per year contract he signed.  Awww, poor baby.  I can't see any team, at least a team with a soul, signing Manny who thinks he can get a 4 year deal worth $100 million.  Manny is 36, and turns 37 next May.  He must be on something to think he worth $100 million over 20 years let alone 4!  

Good luck, Manny, not that I mean it but you will need it.  Those shrinks you have to be seeing must be expensive.  Nobody wants a player who shows up pitchers consistently after a home run by watching the ball travel and not moving until it has reached the stands.  Nobody wants a player who has no respect for the game.  Nobody wants  a player who might assault any senior citizens working for the team.  Nobody wants a player who doesn't run to first base if he isn't surely getting a hit.  Nobody really wants Manny Ramirez....except Manny Ramirez.  Here's hoping Manny gets out of baseball after this season and here's hoping the Red Sox bill is collected by the devil.

What the....?

It seems that the Yankees and Pirates adjusted their deal for Xavier NAdy and Damaso Marte.  Instead of George Kontos and Phil Coke going with Jose Tabata and Ross Ohlendorf it is now Daniel McCutchen and Jeff Karstens that are headed to Pittsburgh.  McCutchen was just beginning to excel and had been talked about as a potential replacement if Sidney Ponson had faltered.  

Jeff Karstens is a fringe player so his inclusion does not effect the Yankees much.  However, I think including McCutchen in this deal will come back to haunt the Yankees, much like trading Damaso Marte for Enrique Wilson.  

As for Tabata, I think the Yankees were turned off by his almost giving up on baseball.  Potential or not, the Yankees don't need a 20 year old prima donna.  Besides, Austin Jackson is the true prospect of the Yankees outfield.  He almost made the Yankees out of Spring Training and has not missed a beat at AA Trenton.  It will only be a matter of time before Jackson rightfully takes his place as the starting center fielder on this Yankee team.  Think Bernie Williams, at least I do when I hear about Jackson.  

Don't get me wrong, I think Nady will prove to be an X-Factor on this Yankee team.  I think he gives the Yankees a scrappiness they desperately need.  I just hope Brian Cashman realizes what he gave up to get it and that it does not come back to haunt the Yankees for years.

Nady and X-Factor?

The New York Yankees acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hnaded reliever Damaso Marte from the Pirates in exchange for pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, George Kontos, and Phil Coke, and outfielder Jose Tabata.  The Yankees were in need of some offensive help after Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui went down with injuries.  Nady fits what the Yankees were looking for, a right-handed hitter with some power.    With the Pirates this season, Nady was hitting .330 with 13 homers and 57 RBI's.  Nady also has a .318 AVG and 39 RBI with runners in scoring position.  The Yankees have been terrible in that department this season so Nady does represent an upgrade there.  Not a superstar, Nady is a nice player who should be able to fit in very nicely in the Yankee clubhouse and on the field.

The real interesting player in the deal is Damaso Marte.  Marte, originally a Yankee farmhand who was sent to the Pirates for Enrique Wilson, is a solid lefty out of the pen.  The Yankees, this season, have not really had an effective lefty out of the pen.  Billy Traber and Sean Henn both failed miserably in their role as the lefty specialist so Marte will be a welcome addition.  However, I can't help but wonder if Enrique Wilson was really worth the price back in 2001.  Is Nady, a man who hit 20 homers once in his career and has never reached 100 RBI's worth Ohlendorf and Tabata?  

Tabata was the Yankees #3 prospect according to Baseball America and, at 20 years old, has loads of potential.  However, Tabata came close to quitting baseball this season after beig mired in a horrible slump.  He then injured his wrist, two alarms for the Yankees who may actually have been wise to unload him when they did.  

Overall, I can't see this deal hurting the Yankees in the long run.  Getting Marte back solves a problem that has existed since Mike Stanton left.  Xavier Nady should become a fan favorite at the Stadium.  He is the player with heart that has been lacking in the Yankee clubhouse since Paul O'Neill retired.  If it cost the Yankees the potential of Tabata and Ohlendorf then so be it.  Right now the Yankees are poised to make a run at the Rays and Red Sox.  If the Yankees make a the playoffs this deal will be well worth it.

Holy Cow!!! A Basebrawl Game!!

Baseball received a black eye the other day when the Dayton Dragons took on the Peoria Chiefs.  Chiefs pitcher Julio Castillo had been wild through the first couple of innings and had hit a couple of Dragons players.  In response, one of the Dragons had slid hard into second base, resulting in a broken leg for one of the Chiefs players.  

Tempers exploded as the two managers came out to argue.  Castillo, presumably in response to ribbing from the Dragon bench, launched a baseball towards the Dragon dugout.  the ball sailed high and struck a fan, sending that fan to the hospital.  Benches had already cleared at that point but things just exploded.  Punches, kicks, and all around mayhem ensued.  Fifteen players and both managers were ejected.  So many players were kicked out that the league had to be petitioned so that the game could be continued.  

After the game, Castillo was arrested and was being held on $50,000 bond and was forced to surrender his passport so he didn't skip the country.  Castillo should be handed a lifetime ban from baseball.  What he did was a conscious effort to hurt someone.  Does he think a 90 MPH fastball is harmless?  What he did is no different from taking a loaded weapon.  Baseball should show it has some teeth here.  Suspend the clown for life.

Who for the Hall Part II?

I was bored and figured I would bring Part II in my Who Deserves the Hall.  If you disagree let me know.  Let the debate begin.

Jeff Bagwell, 1B, Astros - Over 400 homers and one of the best all around hitters of his generation.  I would vote for him.

Rickey Henderson, OF, A's - There should be no question about him.  The greatest leadoff hitter, all-time stolen base leader and all-around character.

Pedro Martinez, P, Red Sox - He was the best during a five year span.  However, he was not Sandy Koufax so he will miss the cut.  Injuries cut short what should have been a Hall of Fame career.

Mariano Rivera, RP, Yankees - Absolutely.  No question about it.

Tim Raines, OF, Expos - He was one of the best players in the game in the 1980's.  The Rock quietly compiled one of the better reumes of the 1980's and 1990's.  His .294 AVG, 2,605 hits, 808 stolen bases, 1330 to 966 walk to strikeout ratio all point towards him having the numbers to get in.  

Roberto Alomar, 2B, Blue Jays - There is no doubt that Alomar deserves to take his place as one of baseball's best.  He set the standard for offensive second basemen while winning 10 gold gloves and being elected to 13 All-Star games.  Not bad for 17 seasons worth of work.

Ivan Rodriguez, C, Rangers - There should be no doubt about this one.

Jim Thome, 1B, Indians - 525 home runs and counting.  Thome was one of the most consistent sluggers of his era.  He gets in.

All-Star Send-off

Yankee Stadium, the House That Ruth Built, got a proper send-off.  Some of Baseball's all-time greats were honored in the pre-game festivities as was George Steinbrenner III who took the Yankees from corporate afterthought and made them great again.  Steinbrenner, in failing health, was moved to tears during his ride around the park as he delivered the cermonial first pitch baseballs.  It was a very classy ceremony and baseball and the New York Yankees should be proud of themselves.

One thing baseball should not be proud of is the late start time of the game.  Starting the festivities at 8 PM EST eliminated the young fans from seeing the completion of the game.  If I remember correctly the game itself didn't start until 8:47 PM.  Do you know any young kids who could watch more than a couple of innings?  Is it so awful to start the game at 7 PM like a normal baseball game?  Does Major League Baseball have to sell its soul to television?  Does FOX (and ESPN and Sunday nights) have to stick it to the fans who are paying for it?  Something needs to be done.  Granted, the game went 15 innings.  But it could have ended an hour earlier had the game started an hour earlier.  One day fans will feel the discomfort of being screwed so often.

Kudos to Terry Francona for replacing Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter in the middle of an inning so they could get their ovations from the home crowd.  He also brought Mariano Rivera in in the middle of an inning.  Mr. Francona deserves a standing ovation next time the Red Sox come to town.  It would only be fair and right.

Poor Dan Uggla.  This guy had the worst All-Star game ever.  He struck out three times, committed three errors and grounded into an inning ending double play.  How can you not feel sorry for this guy?

How typical is it that a Red Sox wins the MVP award in Yankee Stadium?  

In Other News:

Anyone notice that the Yankees signed Eric Milton on July 11th?  That would be the same Eric Milton that was the Yankees first round draft pick years back.  The same one that was the center-piece to bring Chuck Knoblauch over from the Twins.  According to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees official website he is now on their roster.  This is what is known as Ponson backup insurance.

It looks like the Yankees might be without Hideki Matsui for the remainder of the year.  This is very bad news for a team whose offense has been struggling all year.  Matsui was one of the few Yankees who was hitting with runners in scoring position.  With Johnny Damon out as well, the Yankees offense has really sputtered.  Two of three .300 hitters gone.  Damon is expected back soon but Matsui was on pace for a career year this year.  He will be hard to replace.  

Yankee fans can forget about Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, and even Xavier Nady.  If they didn't give up their young pitching for Johan Santana or C.C. Sabathia what makes you think their going to give them up for a bat?  Jason Bay would be a nice fit but the Pirates are asking for too much for him.  

Richie Sexson has been mentioned as a possible addition to bolster the Yankee offense.  I have to ask what is being pumped through the air conditioning at the Yankee offices.  Sexson, who was released by the dreadful Seattle Mariners, was hitting around .212 .  Just what the Yankee offense needs.  Oh, and even during Sexson's best days he struck out about 150 times a year.  Great addition.  Jeez, might as well see what Don Mattingly and Wade Boggs are up to.  I bet they can hit at least .250-60.  Why not bring up Juan Miranda who is hitting over .300 at AAA.  I'm sure he can hit at least .230.  The other question I have is where would Sexson play?  DH?  1B?  I guess Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon (when healthy) Jason Giambi, and Wilson Betemit aren't good enough.  Strange.  I really hope Brian Cashman has a plan.