Thoughts on the 2009 World Series/2010 Season
-Finally, I can enjoy my winter for the first time since 2000. I usually rate years of my life based on how the Yankees did. So, for me, 2009 will forever be known as "a good year".
-Sure I'm spoiled. I turn 22 on the 30th and have been lucky to experience five World Series championships. But don't assume that I have appreciated them any less. I'll never take them for granted. If I live to be a 100 and never watch the Yankees win another championship, I'll always have these five.
-It's going to be really interesting how the Yankees approach the whole resigning of Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. There are so many questions that need to be addressed. Do they want to stay in New York? How many years are they looking for? Does Matsui want to play left field? Do the Yankees want to employ a full-time DH? Aren't they looking to get younger? Obviously, all of these concerns will be ironed out over the next few months.
-The game was fun last night, but what was probably even more fun was watching the agents of Damon and Matsui as the night progressed. I'm sure after every Matsui RBI-hit, his agent was lighting cigars with 8,000,000 yen and yelling the Japanese equivalent of "Cha-Ching!" The same could be said for Damon's agent. That is until the third inning when Damon pulled his calf while scoring on Hideki's hit. My guess is general managers aren't necessarily salivating over Damon's impending free agency. "OOOOOO, an aging left-fielder with no arm and a penchant for straining vital muscles!" Don't get me wrong though, I want Damon back. He was too valuable to THIS team. Which brings me to my next point:
-Damon's at-bat in the ninth inning of Game 4 will forever be known as "the most unheralded important at-bat in World Series history". Two outs and no one on base. In the previous inning, Joba Chamberlain surrendered a game-tying home run off the bat of Pedro Feliz. The series had shifted in the Phillies favor. If Lidge gets out of the ninth, there's a very good chance Philadelphia wins it in the bottom of the ninth and the series is tied 2-2. But up steps Johnny Damon. After looking silly swinging at two sliders in the dirt, Damon fouls off pitch after pitch until Lidge leaves a fastball up. Johnny knocks it into left and passes the proverbial baton to Teixeira. Surprisingly, Damon takes off for second. Since the Phillies had the shift on for Teixeira, no one was covering third. Knowing this, Johnny sprints towards third and makes it. Cue Teixeira hit-by-pitch and Arod double. Game, Blouses. Yankees take a commanding 3-1 series lead. That's why I want him back (for the right length and price).
-I'll say this once, if the Yankees don't put Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen next season, I'll lose it. Whatever "IT" is, I'll lose it. This post-season was clearly a glaring reason why they should do so. And if they didn't see it, they're either blind, stubborn, insane, or epically stupid. Both his velocity and location improved. Plus his slider was actually sliding, which it wasn't during the season. The man was born to relieve. He doesn't have the intelligence nor the attention span to start.
-Since the Yankees WILL be doing the above, this means its a perfect opportunity for Phil Hughes to start. Look, I lovedwhat he did for us in the bullpen this season. It was terrific. But unlike Joba, his pitching repertoire and overall mental makeup screams "STARTING PITCHER!!!!". He's calm, cool, calculated and smart. Once again, unlike Joba.
-Can we officially call the period between 2001 and 2008, "The Curse of Mike Mussina". Mussina arrived in New York in 2001, a year after they had won their third straight World Series championship. And retired in 2008, a year before they won their 27th world title. Bad luck? Coincidence? Was he as much of a douche as everyone said he was? I'll put my money on the latter. He was a terrific pitcher and a great Yankee, but from what I heard, he was a word that starts with a "pr" and ends with a "ick". And I'm sure his "winning personality" had some effect on team chemistry.
-Throwing aside blatant homerism, I think we can all agree that Mariano Rivera is not human. On his Baseball Reference page it says he turns 40 on November 29th. Does that mean anything really? Really? Every time he strikes out a batter, I'm reminded of a C.S. Lewis quote:
"I find in myself desires which nothing in this earth can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world"
Half Centaur
New York Post-A-Rod -- half man, half horse's behind. The Yankees slugger is reportedly such an egomaniac that he placed paintings of himself depicted as a centaur -- a mythical creature who is half-man, half-horse -- over his bed, an ex-girlfriend said. "He was so vain," the unidentified A-Rod lover told Us Weekly. "He had not one but two painted portraits of himself as a centaur."
Now? Really, now? C'mon anonymous ex-girlfriend. You couldn't have picked a better time to let this nugget out? As a Yankee fan, I'm trying to ignore the fact that Arod would rather have a threesome with his hand and a mirror than his girlfriend. For me, until the end of this World Series, he's a normal human being whose only focus is on winning. But this centaur story only reminds us of how "WTF" Rodriguez is.
If the Phillie fans don't use this knowledge to their advantage tonight, I will be greatly disappointed.
I’m starting to embrace the “Dog Days”
What a weekend, huh? I mean, for me, as a Yankee fan. Your weekend could've been terrible. But mine was great. And by "great" I mean, the Yankees won. They won baseball games. All of them. And more importantly, they won them against the Red Sox. Thereby lengthening their division lead over Boston to 6.5 games.
It's funny how your overall mood changes based on how your favorite team is performing. If the Yankees are struggling, I am suddenly snarky and critical, everything I eat tastes bad, and one little inconvenience can set me off for the day. Not this weekend though. It could've been raining acid and fire I would have had an upbeat attitude. Yankee wins cures all ills. Especially in the manner they did it over the past four days.
Forget the fact that they were playing the Red Sox. These wins would have been considered epic if they played the Long Island Ducks. Having the wins be against Boston was just icing on the proverbial cake.
Coming into Thursday, the Yankees were 0-8 against the Red Sox for the season. A stat that has been shoved down the throats of Yankee fans since the last time the two teams met. But the Yankees changed for the better since then. They have a relatively healthy Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira decided to start earning his paycheck, and Phil Hughes has become Goose Gossage circa 1977.
The series was a perfect storm for the Yankees. And they took advantage. The Red Sox were (and still are) seriously depleted. Jason Bay was out of the lineup for the first two games of the series with a hamstring injury. Big Papi, who was careless and took some supplements and blah blah blah, has been a shell of a shell of his former self. It's almost comical how much he has fallen off. There were pitches thrown to him this weekend, that if they were thrown to him in 2004, they would've landed on the Deegan. 2009, not so much. It looked like he was swinging a 20 pound bat and his arms were made of jello. Final box score from this weekend: 1 for 14, 2 BBs, 3 Ks, and millions of broken hearts.
You can really fault the Sox pitching for their humilation. Other than Smoltz (whom they designated for assignment), Beckett, Lester and even Buchholz held their own. In fact, the Yankees couldn't touch Beckett or Lester. So say what you will about Boston right now, but if they some how find a way into the playoffs, you can punch their ticket to the second round. Because no one is beating them in a short series (maybe the Tigers).
Since the beginning of the season, I've bemoaned the fact that the new stadium is dead. When I went there it felt cold and sterile. And don't even get me started on the $1,250 seats. Not to mention how half of the seats are empty, but the fans who are there couldn't be bothered. When they're not ordering food, they're either text messaging from their Blackberries or waving to the camera. WATCH THE GAME! YOU DIDN'T PAY (I'm assuming) A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO TEXT! Anyway, for obvious reasons, the fans were more into this series. It seemed like the old stadium for once. After Texieira's go-ahead home run in the eighth last night, the stadium was rocking like it's predecessor. Even the fancy seat jerks took time between texts to give a polite golf clap.
Right now, everyone is feeling good. With their rotation, bullpen, and lineup, the Yankees can coast into the playoffs. Which is something I am already nervous for. Since 2004, I can't seem to trust this team. No matter how many clutch hits they get, walk-offs by A-Rod, and shutdown performances by Sabathia, I'll always be nervous for the playoffs. In 2007, the Yankees went 6-0 against the Indians during the regular season. Playoffs come around, eliminated in five games. Essentially nothing matters what happens during the season once October hits. Nothing. I can only hope this good karma carries over to the next three months.
Alex Rodriguez and Kate Hudson caught making out! Scandalous!
At least its better then Madonna. I bet he's just using her to get to Goldie Hawn.
Yep, I went to the game
Three straight walk-offs. 20-17. Red Sox lost. It's time to watch Game 7.
I'll be back...
John Sterling: The Highest, Farest, Gone’est Announcer Ever!
Survey a hundred New York Yankees fans: What do you think of John Sterling? Odds are, there will be fifty positive responses and fifty negative responses. The "Legendary Voice of the Yankees" (Sorry Michael Kay) has been calling games since 1989. And in that time, he has been the personification of hyperbole and exaggeration. Ironically, such qualities have split the New York Yankees supporters into those who love him and those who can't stand him. There are actually those who enjoy his self-serving, over-the-top homerun calls. They think that it is campy and cute. Maybe they are, but somewhere a line needs to be drawn. There are times when a ball is well hit into the outfield and there is a need for the play to be described and analyzed. However, he has already gone into "Homerun Voice Mode". So while the ball is bouncing in the corner and runners are rounding the bases, Sterling is describing a majestic drive off the bat of whoever. He is too preoccupied with getting his "call" in, that he sacrifices actually doing his job. I would excuse his behavior if his "calls" were interesting and worth the effort. But if you were ever to listen to a game where a Yankee hit a homerun, you would think Sterling had five year-old writers.
The simplicity of the late Harry Kalas' home run call, "Outta here", is what made him great. Sterling, on the other hand, in addition to "It is high! It is far! It is gone!" adds a unique different call for each player hitting the homerun. They are so cring-worthy, that the sound of Suzyn Waldman's voice would be welcome over it. Let's go through them, shall we?
Melky Cabrera: "The Melkman delivers!" "It's the Melky Way" "The Melkman always knocks twice"
(Ed Note: That third one doesn't even make sense.)
Robinson Cano: "Cano! Don't you know?" "Cano can do!" "A Ribbie for Robbie!"
(Ed Note: With a name like Cano, I'm sure there are an infinite amount of others.)
Johnny Damon: "Positively Damonic!" "Johnny's on the spot!" "It's a Johnny's Rocket!"
(Ed Note: "Johnny" provides too much for him. It's time he be referred to as "John Damon".)
Derek Jeter: "El Capitan!" "A Jeterian swing!" "A Jeter Jolt!" "Oh Captain, My Captain!"
(Ed Note: His Jeter calls are done with his pants around his ankles.)
Hideki Matsui: "A Thrilla by Godzilla!" "An Upper-Decki by Hideki!"
(Ed Note: I see what he did there.)
Xavier Nady: "X marks the spot!"
(Ed Note: Looks like this one will be put away for a while.)
Jorge Posada: "Jorgie juiced one!" "Jorgie jacks one!"
(Ed Note: I guess he thought "juiced" implied too much.)
Alex Rodriguez: "An A-Bomb from A-Rod!" "Alexander the Great Conquers Again!"
(Ed Note: He pulled out the second one during Rodriguez's 54 homerun year. "A-Bomb" was running dry.)
Nick Swisher: "Jolly 'Ol St. Nick!" "Nick at Night!"
(Ed Note: Google was obviously used for these ones.)
Jose Molina: "Jose, can you see that?!"
(Ed Note: Thought of seven minutes before the first pitch)
And the best...
Mark Teixeira: "A Tex Message!" "You're on the Mark, Teixeira!"
(Ed Note: No response)
Welcome back you freak.
Tonight in Baltimore, the New York Yankees will welcome back their "star" slugger Alex Rodriguez to the lineup. Ironically, with a 14-16 record and 5.5 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays, the Yankees need Rodriguez more than ever. At this point with the rotation, bullpen, and lineup struggling mightily, New York will put up with the bad publicity magnet that is Arod, if it means he socks a few dingers. And I am sure the rest of the Yankees Universe feels the same way. We will put up with the Madonna-loving, steroid-taking, pitch-tipping, bitch-titting mental midget, if he hits with runner's in scoring position. Also, with Rodriguez in the lineup, it will take some pressure off Mark Teixeira. Who, it's look like, has just as fragile a psyche as Arod. He can barely handle the smattering of boo's from a half-empty Yankee Stadium, imagine if he were back at the old park. He would be taken off the field in a straitjacket muttering, "All boo's and no hits make Marky a dull boy".
Who'd a thunk it? Arod a potential savior? Well, we'll see.
The dam is starting to crack
With Alex Rodriguez only a few weeks away from returning to the Yankees, more allegations are beginning to come out about him. In her new book, which is set to be released in May, Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts alleges that the third basemen did not stop using steroids when he came to the Yankees and he might have been using as far back as high school, the Daily News reports. Among the other details in the book include:
Yankees teammates nicknamed Rodriguez "B--CH T--S" ("Man boobs" for the layperson) in 2005 because he put on 15 pounds in the offseason which resulted in womanly pectorals, a condition called gynecomastia.
Rodriguez tipped pitches to opponents during blowouts when he was playing for Texas. He hoped players would recriprocate when he was having an off night and needed to get his average up.
He had a poker habit, which was detailed in his divorce proceedings. Also included was his affair with Madonna and others.
Rodriguez was hated at Hooters, where he routinely tipped the minimum 15 percent.
If anyone is suprised by any of this, please raise your right hand. Nobody? I thought so. I mean honestly, at this point, there are only a handful of things that could come out about Alex Rodriguez that would be a shocker. 1. If he killed someone. 2. If he got a sex change (Well, now that I think about it.). 3. If he died. I think that's where the list ends. Of all the things listed here, the only thing I am mildly suprised about is his tipping of pitches to opponents. Because of that was the case, you would think he would get caught by a teammate and called out. My only theory is that either his teammates did not care, or that everyone was doing it.
Speaking about his high school steroid use, that sounds about right. Coming out of high school he was regarded as the greatest prospect in the history of the sport. Coupled with his daddy issues, arrogance, and constant need for the approval of others, im suprised he didn't start using in middle school. Everyone saw this coming. You, me, the Yankees, baseball fans, your grandmother, everyone.
So what the heck is going to happen when he comes back to the Yankees? My guess is, probably not much. He will be bombarded with questions, asked about further steroid use, not tipping at Hooters (Even I tip 25%), bitch tits, and what not. And since he already when through this charade during that apology press conference, he will think he is done with this and say "No comment" or "Next question".
Rodriguez returns to the mess he made in two weeks. He will eventually have to address his steroid use, his broken family, his muscular women fetish, all while holding together the Yankees offense. I have said it before, only nine more years of this. Who knows what else will come out?
Arod, he goes hard
Rodriguez opts for surgery, will miss 6-9 weeks
You can't fault the guy. He did play a good majority of last season with the same injury. Surgery is probably the best option considering he is a nine year investment with the Yankees. Nine years! In nine years, I will be 30 years old. I will have a wife, two kids, a home in the suburbs with a white-picket fence, and a labrador retriever. I plan on living the American Dream. I was lucky enough to be born here, and I'm milking it for all it's worth.
*I have this eerie thought in the back of my mind that Arod is one of those players who will never win a championship. With all his talents and skills, there is something about him that hinders his ability to be successful on a "team" level. Dan Marino had it. Terrell Owens has it. And I am pretty sure Rodriguez has it. I never verbalized this thought of because I don't want to admit it. If he does have this mysterious attribute, that means the Yankees will still be searching for their 27th World Championship nine years from now. And I don't think I can take that. As discussed in a previous post, I am spoiled as a Yankee fan. I am only 21 years old and have experienced four championships. I have evolved into a being that needs team success. Myself and every other young Yankee fan. So my only hope is that Arod does not possess the trait of the unsuccessful. The life of every pinstripe-loving twenty year old depends on it.
Economy, not drugs, bigger problem for MLB
This is largely a useless poll. Actually, all polls are useless. But I thought I would include it in my post because the poll was conducted by the school I currently attend: Seton Hall University. This isn't the first time ESPN has used a Seton Hall poll. During my first semester I took part in conducting one. Needless to say, it wasn't fun. Cold-calling people usually is so. I did get free food though. Which made up for getting hung up on for four hours.
USA defeats Canada 6-5 in WBC
I am not going to lie and say that I watched the game because I didn't, but it is still nice to see competitive baseball being played again. And by the way, shouldn't AMERICA dominate CANADA in baseball? The last time I checked, the game was invented in Hoboken, New Jersey (America's armpit). Why are we defeating "our attic" by the skin of our teeth? This may sound a tad ignorant, but don't Canadians just play hockey, drink Molson Ice, and listen to Rush? I didn't think the word "baseball" was in their vernacular.
Duke, North Carolina game at 4:00 ET
I used to be a Duke fan. I enjoyed the likes of Jay Williams, Carlos Boozer, Shane Battier, Shelden Williams, and Chris Duhon. But that was then. I think I stopped being a fan when Krzyzewski recruited Greg Paulus. A player who has no discernable basketball talent, was heavily recruited and inevitably given a scholarship to arguably the most successful college basketball program in the country. Watching him play basketball for the past four years makes me hate the game, and my life. But also, I can't stand the University of North Carolina. So at 4:00ET when I shift from one end of the couch to the other, and turn on CBS, I will be rooting for a highly competitive game. That, or Paulus and Hansbrough get in a slap fight.
By the way, it's not gay that I like this song, is it? It does feature Ludacris, which makes it acceptable for straight men to enjoy. And enjoy I will.
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How is Wesley Snipes in a movie? Work release? [seanbfitzgerald]
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RT @jacko2323: DO YOU BELIEVE IN MINOR UPSETS??? [seanbfitzgerald]
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4-2!!!! #USA [seanbfitzgerald]
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Hockey? Oh yeah! US vs. Canada! When we're done with them, they'll be grateful they have universal health care! [seanbfitzgerald]
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