Spring (ahhhh!) Training Assessment: My Yankees
It's been a real long while since I've discussed the Yankees at all. To be honest, I'm still reveling in their championship. Still feels good. So as much as I want the 2010 season to begin, I know on April 4th at 8:00, the Yankees will automatically become "defending" World Series Champions. And that's a lot of pressure. Especially for me. Because I take on all of the emotional support for the team while contributing nothing to the outcome of games. It's an uneasy position to be in.
I've stated this before, but when I write about the Yankees, my thoughts become jumbled and I can barely form proper sentences. That's why I reserve the right to write in bullet points so this post doesn't appear like it came from the diary of a psychopath. I'll do my best to leave blatant homerism out of this, but I can't promise anything.
- Today, Joba Chamberlain allowed five runs, three hits, and three walks in 1.1 innings. Mmmmm, don't you just love it? I certainly do. It's so great that he's struggling. You know why? Because he shouldn't be a starter! Not now! Not ever! Can the Yankees please stop with this charade? Phil Hughes is the fifth starter. Joba is the set-up guy. Done! Finished! Let's go get a drink! I hope Joba never gets out of the first inning at all this month. He should be in the bullpen where he belongs. A place where he can properly gather all his rage and take it out in the form of chin-high fastballs and knee-buckling sliders. Chamberlain doesn't have the mental make-up to start games. Hughes, on the other hand, does. Very much so actually. He's calm, cool, smart, and patient. Those attributes don't necessarily apply to Joba. It's a no-brainer Yankees. Do the right thing.
- During the off-season, I was undecided on whether or not I wanted Johnny Damon to sign a new contract with the Yankees. I like to root to for the Yankees under the illusion that they play within the confines of some sort of budget. So when Damon and Boras were asking for 4 years, I scoffed. "Heck no!", I said. Then the Yankees signed Nick Johnson to DH and probably bat second. Damon and Boras realized there were no takers, and Johnny inevitable struck a 1-year deal with the Tigers. Up until today, I was indifferent. I like Nick Johnson. I think he's a great hitter. Works pitchers to death and gets on base, bottomline. That's when he's healthy. So here we are 3 days into Spring Training and Nick Johnson is sitting with a bad back. Johnny? Where are you? Come back! Please, come back! Ugh, did Johnson have a bad back all off-season? Nope. Apparently he wore spikes on the artificial turf patch that covers the dirt in the batter's box and subsequently hurt it. Johnny Damon may be a little simple, but he's not that stupid, or injury prone. I bet Damon has a huge year for Detroit and rubs it in our face. Can't wait.
I'll update with these types of posts as Spring Training continues. The regular season can't come soon enough.
Move over Melky!…Literally, go to Left.
Following the World Series, I thought we didn't need to make any changes. Even with the apparent departures of both Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui, I thought we could get by with a Cabrera, Gardner (Jackson), Swisher outfield.
Then the name "Curtis Granderson" came up in trade talks. I immediately thought, "Throw the farm at the Tigers!"
And now we have him. In a three way trade, the Yankees had to give Ian Kennedy to the Diamondbacks, and Phil Coke and Austin Jackson to the Detroit Tigers. There are some Yankees fans out there who aren't too crazy about giving up Jackson (Their top prospect) and even Coke. To them I say, you really don't know what you're talking about.
I've read scouting reports on Austin Jackson for two years and from what I gather, at best, he'll be Curtis Granderson. Sure, he's only 22 years old and has had steady progress since being drafted in 2005, but a .759 OPS in the International League in 2009 isn't good enough.
I feel as if my my fellow Yankee fans are not sufficiently pumped for this trade. Granderson is perfect for this team and this stadium. It's weird to think that with his speed, he only had 20 stolen bases last season. With Girardi as his manager, I expect him to steal upwards of 40 bases in 2010.
In regards to home-runs, everyone can expect his total of 30 in 2009 to sky rocket in the tee-ball field that is Yankee Stadium.
Trust me, this is a great trade for the Yankees.
Yup
Today I have to write an essay, take a test, do the dishes, take out the garbage, and probably get stuck in traffic.
I miss the Yankees
I'll say it again: I miss the Yankees. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Oh poor Sean! Being a New York sports fan must be hell! Trying to juggle all those championships must be a full time job!"
Mock me all you want. But it IS tough. Sure, I get to relish in the greatness that is the New York Yankees. I'll admit that I'm spoiled. Having my favorite team spend the GDP of Morocco every season just so they win some piece of shit trophy is fantastic. And I don't mind the hatred that comes in every direction from competing teams fans. I'll put up with it. They're playing within the confines of that fabulous collective bargaining agreement and until they start cheating, I won't apologize for their expenditures.
But that season is over. It's in the past. And in case you haven't noticed, I root for the Jets, Knicks, Seton Hall Basketball, and Notre Dame Football. Still think I'm spoiled? I thought so.
Sure, the Jets came into the season with relatively low expectations. But those expectations went out the window as soon as Rex Ryan opened his mouth. Sure it was fun to listen to. I was right there with him as he ranted and raved about not kissing Belichick's rings or kicking Channing Crowder's ass. It was great. All this talk was great as the Jets took care of the Texans, Patriots, and Titans through the first three weeks. It was a good time to be a Jet fan. I actually had the opportunity to gloat in front of Patriots fans. Big mistake. And as soon as Mark Sanchez realized he was a rookie quarterback, and Rex Ryan realized he was a rookie coach, and Leon Washington's ankle ripped in half, and Braylon Edwards forgot he had hands, they were 4-5.
Now, our head coach is tearing up in front of team on a Monday before a Week 10 game. And I have no problem with showing emotion. We're all human. And hopefully it motivates the Jets to victory on Sunday. But that's what I've been reduced to. A season that started off with such promise has me clinging to hope for a victory that would make them 5-5.
Secretly, I hope they lose out and set themselves up nicely in the draft.
And how about those Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Ask me why I am a fan and I won't have an answer. Maybe it's because my grandfather and father always watched them growing up. Maybe it's because every single one of their games is on television. Maybe it's because I like the movie Rudy. Or maybe it's because I'm Irish. Whatever the case may be, I'm stuck. I'm stuck with this perennially underachieving mess of a football program. Up until last season, they hadn't won a bowl game since 1993. This is the Irish we're talking about! Remember when they were good? No? Me neither. And that's the problem. They haven't been consistently good for a few decades. What recruits would want to go there? "Let's see. I could play for a school in southern California with a cool, hip coach and beautiful girls or I could play for a school in Indiana for a fat coach with a barely acceptable winning percentage".
And that brings me to my next point. Fire Charlie Weis. Whoa, I just had deja vu. Oh, that's because I've said that before. A thousand times. From what I've read, after last week's loss to Pittsburgh, things are being set in motion for Charlie is go "bye-bye" and someone else being put in his place. Thank Touchdown Jesus! Long overdue. I need not say anymore about him because his play-calling does all the talking.
And the Knicks. If it were up to all Knick fans, they would ask to be put in a vegetative state until July 2010. This season has absolutely no meaning whatsoever. Well, not necessarily. No free agent would like to sign with a team that's counting on Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallanari to reach their potential. But if any young player shows signs of life, maybe, just maybe they could hook some fish. It's been argued that it's a foregone conclusion that Lebron James will bolt Cleveland as soon as the season is over and declare for free agency.
I think that's a given also.
But where he ends up is anyone's guess. If he's looking to further his "brand", he'll end up in New York. If he's looking to appease his friends, he'll end up in New Jersey/Brooklyn. And if he's looking to win, he'll end up anywhere else.
But I am getting ahead of myself. Right now, I have to put up with the Knicks who have one shiny win in 10 games and are looking to sign Allen Iverson. I'll take anyone right now. Anyone who puts fannies in the seats, makes this team interesting, and maybe help win a game or to. Anything to make the transition from now to July any easier.
So this is what I have to put up with. From April to October, I am a content man. The Yankees fulfill all needs. But from November to March, I'm lost. Looking to grasp onto any success. 5-5? I'll take it. Allen Iverson? Bring him on! Any other coach than Charlie Weis? You know it!
Like I said, this is what I've been reduced to. A Cleveland sports fan.
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.
Phillies/Yankees World Series Preview
Previews are pointless. Rarely do they offer any insight into what their actually previewing. Most fans already know who is who and what is what. It's the World Series. If you didn't know the specifics, you probably weren't going to watch anyway. Especially with baseball. This 2009 season has been going on for about 3 years. Even if you tried to avoid the sport, you probably accumulated enough knowledge about these teams by accident. That's just how baseball is formatted. It's so long and time-consuming that you become interested with knowing it. It latches onto your psyche and lies dormant in your unconsciousness. So when someone asks you who's the right fielder for the Phillies, you can say "Jayson Werth!" without batting an eyelash.
Previews may be pointless, but people love them. That's why I am going to do a full scale, "Hold on to your seat!" preview of the 2009 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees. That's right, I'm going to do the whole "compare each facet of the game" thing. It's a newspaper/blog staple. It's quick, easy, and requires no real leg work or effort. It's the way life should be.
Starting Pitching
Advantage: Push
Obviously the Yankees right? No. I'm throwing out every game Sabathia, Burnett, and Pettitte pitched in these playoffs and looking at it from face value. I hate sounding like an ESPN talking head but "If Cliff Lee pitches like Cliff Lee, the Phillies have just as good a chance to win Game One against the Yankees". Cliche or not, it's true. The difference between Lee and Sabathia is essentially negligible. And the rest of the rotations for both teams is a wash. Ask any Yankee fan if he or she feels comfortable with Burnett on the mound. Ask any Phillie fan if he or she feels good with Cole Hamels on the mound. And setting aside the insane atmosphere at Yankee Stadium when Pedro toes the mound in Game Two, he's going to keep the Phillies in the game. That I expect. The same goes for Pettitte who has been an absolute horse in his last three starts.
If you're going to look for a difference in the rotations, it's going to boil down to Game Four. Will CC throw the same on three days rest like he did in the ALCS? If CC throws well, can Joe Blanton match him? Until then, it's a push. Obviously, with the bandboxes these teams play in, the key will be keeping the ball within the field of play.
Lineup
Advantage: Phillies
I don't think I could have agonized over this more. Look at these lineups! Look at them! You trying telling me which team is more stacked. It's this close from being another push. Jeter or Rollins? Werth or Swisher? Howard or Teixeira? Ruiz or Posada? Cabrera or Victorino? Utley or Cano? Feliz or Rodriguez? Ibanez or Damon? I see significant advantages in some positions, but overall, it's too close to call.
So why am I choosing the Phillies? Experience
Sure the Yankees have some World Series experience. Jeter, Posada, and Damon all have been in World Series before. But those crazy Phillies are only one year removed from a championship. Excluding Ibanez, that whole offense has championship memories (and sugarplums) still dancing in their heads. I expect the Phillies to be loose and not press at the plate.
Bullpen
Advantage: Yankees
Let me sum up the bullpens for both teams. During the regular season, the bullpen for the Phillies (especially Brad Lidge) constantly imploded. Lidge blew something like 47 saves this year. New York on the other hand, had a terrific bullpen for a better part of the season. As soon as Phil Hughes was inserted as the set-up man for Mariano Rivera, all the tumblers clicked into place and the bullpen ERA plummeted.
Flash forward to now.
Suddenly Brad Lidge has transformed into the 2008 version of himself and Phil Hughes is pitching like me in 10th grade. Luckily, the Yankees have been able to mask his difficulties with...winning. Nothing covers up a team's weaknesses quite like the 'ol "W". Which brings me to the reason why I gave the edge to the Yankees. Mariano Rivera. If you're keeping track at home, Rivera will turn 40 years old on November 29th (A day before I turn 22). Frightening really. 40 years old and still the best at what he does, sigh...sorry (wipes drool), I lost my train of thought. Oh right.
Crowd
Advantage: Yankees
Screw defense and bench, those things are boring. Granted, their usually the things that decide World Series (see: 2006 Tigers). Let's get to the intangibles! The things that can't be measured. The things that matter in life. Say what you will about how home-field advantage is largely gone by the wayside in baseball and in sports in general. I disagree wholeheartedly. Especially with these two stadiums and fans. They are both rabid, smart, dedicated, and know how to motivate the right players at the right times. Both stadiums are loud, intimidating, and produce camera shaking noise. It's terrific. Good crowds can make a series, regardless of actual play.
Look, I really respect the Phillies fans for their loyalty and enthusiasm for the team they love. They're "true" fans. But where do they earn a significant demerit in my book? Towels. Oh, don't get me started on towels. The towel has become the hallmark of the "new" fan. Recently, when a franchise enters the playoffs for the first time in a long while, their marketing people go a little crazy. "Let's give every fan a towel and they can spin it in the air like an idiot every time the game gets exciting!" (See: Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Philadelphia Phillies). Excuse me for sounding a little Yankee leaning (If it wasn't obvious already), you'll never see a Yankee fan twirling a towel over his head. We use our hands to clap and our throats to yell unrelentingly at opposing players. Those are our tools. We use them proudly.
Prediction: I'm not going there.
I’m breaking my silence…
Thoughts about the impending Yankees/Phillies World Series:
-The Phillies scare me.
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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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