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| 2008 Season Previews: New York Mets |
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Welcome to the 20th of 30 "2008 Team Previews", where I'm - you guessed it! - offering up a little preview of the 2008 season for each of the teams. Nothing super fancy, (I'm not writing books here munecas), just a few notes on what major moves the teams made over the winter and a thought or two on their upcoming season. I'm running out of time since the season is underway, but I'll try to churn out these last few asap! I'm going in reverse order of 2007 standings, so next up is....
 New York Mets 2007 Record: .543 (88-74), 2nd place in NL East (sorry to remind you)
2006 Record: .599 (97-65), 1st place in NL East
Who’s Out: Paul Lo Duca (C), Lastings Milledge (OF), Guillermo Mota (P), Carlos Gomez (OF), Phil Humber (P)
Who’s In: Johan Santana (P), Ryan Church (OF), Brian Schneider (C), Angel Pagan (OF), Brady Clark (OF), Matt Wise (P)
Notes: Mets fans are praying to whatever deity suits them (Jesus, Allah, Hashem, Greg Graffin, etc.) in thanks for having Johan Santana fall in their lap. The prospect offers from the Red Sox and Yankees were better than the four eventually shipped from Flushing to the Twin Cities, but it seemed the two AL East teams were just as happy to see The Best Pitcher On the Planet in the National League. Out of sight, out of mind.
All the better for Mets fans, as they add Santana to a team that, collapse or not, was one game away from the playoffs last year. The front four of Santana, Pedro, Maine and Perez can match up with anyone in the league. As long as Wright, Reyes and Beltran can remain relatively healthy, expect the Mets to go back to the postseason in 2008. In a short series fall scenario, having Santana and Pedro back-to-back could create some great matchups with Peavy and Young, Webb and Haren, or Smoltz and Hudson. If the older Mets are healthy at that point, I'll give them the edge to win the pennant.
Next up: Detroit TigersPrevious Profile: Chicago Cubs
Labels: 2008 team previews, other teams |
posted by Yankees Chick @ Monday, March 31, 2008   |
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| Yankees Chick Full Disclosure |
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A while back I schooled y'all on the wonder that is technology and the fact that when you attempt to post cruel and/or threatening comments, I know who you are and where you are posting from.
Some of you did not listen. Generally speaking, I am a tough gal and could not care less about mean things that are said about me - call me ugly, tell me I don't know anything about baseball, whatevs. However, while I do approve 99% of all comments posted, I will not allow comments that have nothing to do with the blog at all. Saying that I'm a whore does not contribute anything to this site in the slightest. Commenting such things anonymously is pathetic. As I said, I don't really mind most of the derogatory comments I receive, but yesterday and today an anonymous poster (I'm assuming it's just one jackass; I'd prefer to have faith in my YC readers and believe that only one of you would be so cruel) made some hateful remarks attacking me in a completely inappropriate manner, taking cheap shots at my struggles with various very serious health issues. I've only recently begun posting anything about my personal life, but have never disclosed anything specific about my health issues. I've posted about the YCD's (Yankees Chick Dad, obv) cancer and some funny (to me!) non-baseball thoughts that run through my mind in Sidenote Saturdays, but the most personal thing I've shared was my 2-week stint in the hospital back in Feb. Since I didn't disclose what I was there for, these recent comments are obviously from someone that knows me, which greatly hurts me. Mission accomplished, anonymous! Fuck. You. Anywho, since I've been on the "discuss my personal life more" kick lately (why? Boredom and lots of emailed questions), I've decided to disclose the aforementioned issues I deal with on a daily basis in hopes that it will bring about a bit more understanding of your faithful YC. Ready? The reason I was in the hospital was to deal with a serious eating disorder that has plagued me for nearly a decade, as well as crippling depression that I've dealt with for ... forever. Yes, I was a ridiculous skinny beast, and yes, you are right, I used to cut myself. I'm telling you all this not only because so many of you have asked (most of you in a concerned manner; it is only a couple of you that delight in such cruelty), but because it is nothing to be ashamed of and I know that many others struggle with similar issues. I am doing MUCH better now. Thank you to ALL of you that have emailed me with positive thoughts - lovies!As for those of you who have such serious untreated mental problems that you enjoy tearing down others, you have my sympathy. Good luck with life in your current state. Labels: you make me sick |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Monday, March 31, 2008 |
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| 2008 Season Previews: Chicago Cubs |
| Sunday, March 30, 2008 |
Welcome to the 19th of 30 "2008 Team Previews", where I'm - you guessed it! - offering up a little preview of the 2008 season for each of the teams. Nothing super fancy, (I'm not writing books here munecas), just a few notes on what major moves the teams made over the winter and a thought or two on their upcoming season. I'm going in reverse order of 2007 standings, so next up is.... Chicago Cubs 2007 Record: .525 (85-77), 1st place in NL Central 2006 Record: .407 (66-96), last place in NL Central
Who’s Out: Cliff Floyd (OF), Steve Trachsel (P), Jaques Jones (OF), Craig Monroe (OF)
Who’s In: Omar Infante (INF), Tim Lahey (P), Kosuke Fukudome (OF), Jon Lieber (P)
Notes: Before I say anything else, make sure you take a gander at the 2006 and 2007 records. With a few changes - Soriano, Piniella - the team was able to surge from last place to first in just one year. This year, the team looks even better. I simply do not see any holes. The lineup has the likes of the aforementioned Soriano, Fukudome, Ryan The Riot, and Lee (hopefully Felix Pie isn't unable to bat due to that unfortunate and frightening twisted testicle). As for pitching, their bullpen is ridiculous with Wood, Marmol, et al. I would be VERY surprised if this team didn't finish at the top of their division again, and I personally have them pegged as the NL pennant winners. Of course, they will then lose to the Yankees in the World Series. Obv.
Labels: 2008 team previews, other teams |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Sunday, March 30, 2008 |
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| 2008 Season Previews: Atlanta Braves |
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Welcome to the 18th of 30 "2008 Team Previews", where I'm - you guessed it! - offering up a little preview of the 2008 season for each of the teams. Nothing super fancy, (I'm not writing books here munecas), just a few notes on what major moves the teams made over the winter and a thought or two on their upcoming season. I'm going in reverse order of 2007 standings, so next up is....
 Atlanta Braves 2007 Record: .556 (84-78), 3rd place in NL Central 2006 Record: .488 (79-83), 3rd place in NL Central Who’s Out: Jose Ascanio (P), Joey Devine (P), Jamie Richmond (P), Willy Aybar (INF), Chase Fontaine (INF), Tyler Yates (P), Andruw Jones (OF) Who’s In: Tom Glavine (P), Will Ohman (P), Omar Infante (INF), Mark Kotsay (OF), Jeff Ridgway (P), Todd Redmond (P), Ruben Gotay (INF), Notes: Jayson Stark has made the bold prediction that the Braves will be the WS champs in 2008, and while I have to respectfully disagree, I do concur that this team is dark horse of sorts. This is certainly the best roster they've had since their 2005 post-season bust. Their offense is packed with power-men like Tiexeira, Kotsay, the Chipster, and Francoeur, and let's not forget about the starting pitching: they have Hudson, Glavine, Smoltz, Hampton, and Jair Jurrjens holding down the fort. Most people are looking to the Phillies and Mets to battle it out this year, but I'm putting the Braves miles ahead of the Phillies - the Mets should be far more worried about this team. Next up: Chicago Cubs
Previous Profile: Milwaukee Brewers Labels: 2008 team previews, other teams |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Sunday, March 30, 2008 |
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| 2008 Season Previews: Milwaukee Brewers |
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Welcome to the 17th of 30 "2008 Team Previews", where I'm - you guessed it! - offering up a little preview of the 2008 season for each of the teams. Nothing super fancy, (I'm not writing books here munecas), just a few notes on what major moves the teams made over the winter and a thought or two on their upcoming season. I'm going in reverse order of 2007 standings, so next up is....
 Milwaukee Brewers 2007 Record: .512 (83-79), 2nd place in NL Central 2006 Record: .463 (75-87), 4th place in NL Central
Who’s Out: Corey Koskie (3B), Geoff Jenkins (OF), Johnny Estrada (C), Matt Wise (P), Who’s In: Guillermo Mota (P), Jason Kendall (C), David Riske (P), Eric Gagne (P), Mike Cameron (OF),
Notes: Despite what many would consider to be a disappointing 2007 season, the Brewers have kept much of the roster the same and have another chance to make the post-season this year for the first time since 1982. They've got a fantastic core of young players in Fielder, Bran, Hardy, Hall, and Weeks, and if Ben Sheets stays healthy their pitching is great, too - he's in a contract year, so maybe he'll be more motivated so stay in shape? Signing Mike Cameron was brilliant, as it actually fixed three positions. Braun was horrendous at third base last year and Hall is really an infielder, not a centerfielder, so Braun can head out to left field where he's less of a liability and Hall can play third while Cameron takes over in center. As for the Gagne pickup... time shall tell. If everyone stays relatively healthy, expect to see them in October and start peeing your pants.
Next up: Atlanta Braves
Previous Profile:Toronto Blue Jays
Labels: 2008 team previews, other teams |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Sunday, March 30, 2008 |
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| By the Way... |
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Forgot to mention Friday night that the roster has been set:
Lineup
Johnny Damon LF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi 1B
Jorge Posada C
Hideki Matsui DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Melky Cabrera CF Bench
Jose Molina C
Shelley Duncan 1B-RF-LF
Morgan Ensberg 1B-3B
Wilson Betemit 1B-2B-3B-SS Starters
RHP Chien-Ming Wang
RHP Mike Mussina
RHP Phil Hughes
RHP Ian Kennedy Relievers
RHP Mariano Rivera
RHP Joba Chamberlain
RHP LaTroy Hawkins
RHP Kyle Farnsworth
LHP Billy Traber
RHP Ross Ohlendorf
RHP Brian Bruney
RHP Jon Albaladejo And the injured soldiers:
60-day disabled list
RHP Andrew Brackman
RHP Humberto Sanchez
RHP Carl Pavano 15-day disabled list
LHP Andy Pettitte
RHP Jeff Karstens
LHP Sean Henn
Any thoughts?
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| posted by Yankees Chick @ Sunday, March 30, 2008 |
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| Sidenote Saturdays: Way to Go, Mexico! |
| Saturday, March 29, 2008 |
Ah, how I love Sidenote Saturdays. It brings me great joy to blabber about the many non-baseball topics that live in my brain - believe it or not, baseball is not always at the top of the my list of thoughts! All week as I pondered random things I kept exclaiming (in my brain, that is, lest you think I am crazier than I am [and I am crazy, there is no denying that; see the towels story below as one minor example] and say such things aloud) "I've got to put that in my Sidenote Saturday!" Of course, I've forgotten most of them, but here are the ones I remember. ----------------------------------- I am going to be on TV in April - a sports show that will air throughout LA county. Details forthcoming. ----------------------------------- I Know Joe Morgan has a knack for saying the darndest things, but I kinda like him. He seems like a genuinely nice guy. ----------------------------------- The YCD is doing much better and is recovering from his surgery quite nicely. He should be out of the hospital sometime this week, just in time for the season to start rolling. ----------------------------------- When I was a kid, I really wanted to be a farmer. Anytime the age-old question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" was posed my answer would invariably come back "a farmer!" I think it was the idea of having a sweet barn in which to jump in piles of hay that was so attractive. And goats. ----------------------------------- This week in Mexico some very wise youngsters starting some riots against emo kids. As a punk rock chick, this brings a little grin to my face. ----------------------------------- Until a couple years ago, I had an extreme and irrational hatred of towels. The texture literally made my stomach churn. So much did I hate them, in fact, that the YCM made me some non-terry cloth bath towels to use. I am still not a fan of towels, but I'm able to use them like a normal person now. Yes, I have problems. ----------------------------------- The recent "scandal" surrounding Obama and his nutso pastor is beyond pointless. Holding someone accountable for another's idiocy is idiotic and unfair. Let's go ahead and blame Romney for the lunacy that is Mormonism while we're at it. ----------------------------------- I hate Nirvana with a fiery passion unrivaled by my dislike for any other artist/group. The Dave Matthews Band is up there, too. ----------------------------------- Alrighty, that's it for today. I'll be posting a lot more this weekend - I must at least try to get caught up on my 2008 Season Previews. Time is running out! Read last week's Sidenote Saturdays: I H8 U
Labels: sidenote saturdays |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Saturday, March 29, 2008 |
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| Pettitte's Problems Persevere |
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In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos! --------------------------------------------------------
Andy Pettitte cannot catch a break this off-season. First there was the steroids saga, of course, and then the various aches and pains that surely weren't helped by the emotional stress of the aforementioned hoopla. Now it has been announced that the will start the season the the 15-day disabled list, albeit retroactively. He'll be pitching in a minor league game this weekend, and as long as he doesn't suffer any additional troubles he will most likely be activated next Saturday and be able to pitch against the Rays at home in New York.
Read more after the jumpity!
Continue reading Pettitte's Problems Persevere
Labels: fanhouse articles, injuries |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Saturday, March 29, 2008 |
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| Opening Day: Sushi vs Hot Dogs |
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In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos! -------------------------------------------------------- The regular season of baseball will open in the U.S. on Sunday, as the Braves take on the Nationals in their new stadium. As you probably know, the season actually started in Japan for the third time in MLB's history (the Mets and Cubs went in 2000 and the Yanks and Rays in 2004), and brought with it the usual assortment of complaints from players and fans. While there doesn't seem to be as much enthusiasm for the idea as there are complaints, like most anything, there are pros and cons to starting the season 5,500 miles from home. Arguments FOR: - It provides a great platform to show another country the American style of baseball. It showcases the game and makes another part of the world aware of the MLB, its teams, and its stars. Great for business.
- The players are treated like royalty. I'm sure the guys have a blast over there, getting squired about the town and swarmed by adoring fans.
- They are compensated very well -- $40,000 per day.
Labels: fanhouse articles |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Saturday, March 29, 2008 |
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| Dr Jeckyll and Mr Stein |
| Friday, March 28, 2008 |
As you probably know by now, the stadium in which the Yanks play during Spring Training, Legends Field, has been renamed in honor of Big Stein. The newly christened George M. Steinbrenner Field was unveiled yesterday and joins a street and a high school as places in Tampa bearing Big Stein's name. That's right, there is a high school named after Big Stein opening its doors in 2009. PSA: Yankees Chick University opens in 2010 offering an extensive list of majors, including Making Up Nicknames for Baseball Players and Making Fun of Carl Pavano. Back to the matter at hand: Peter Abraham brought up a good point yesterday regarding Big Stein's character. The man is a bit of an enigma (Stein, not PA). He's impressed me with his generosity many times - just in the last year he has paid for the funerals of the unfortunate folks who died in a fire near Yankee Stadium, donated money to Virgina Tech, and played an exhibition game to boost the spirit at the aforementioned school. On the other hand, he's also a confirmed jackass. There's the firings, the threats of firings, his complete lack of internal filter when it comes to saying the often mean things on his mind, the unwarranted and super sketchy investigation of Dave Winfield, the campaign donation to NIXON... it makes it hard to focus on the generosity. The Nixon donation alone is enough to turn YC off. What do you think? Should he be honored? Despite the jackassery, I'm leaning towards yes, but not just because of the nice things he's done for the community. Strictly based on his Yankees-related work, I think he deserves such an honor. His team has been an overall success over the years, and without him at the helm they wouldn't have had all the money to expend on improvements. And by "improvements," I mean Raul Mondesi. Labels: Steinbrothers |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Friday, March 28, 2008 |
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| Motivational Speaking 101: Be Careful What's in the Syringe |
| Thursday, March 27, 2008 |
In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos! -------------------------------------------------------- Whenever I'm having trouble getting myself into gear and I'm in need of a little guidance, I think of who we all think of in those situations: Brian Mcnamee. The career of Clemens' now-infamous trainer has taken a few, um, detours, this year, mainly through legal-ville. He's back into trainer-mode now though, albeit not exactly in a lets-work-out-and/or-juiceify capacity. He gave a motivational speech today to a group of 25 high school athletes, coaches, and some parents with the intent of broadcasting a "don't do what I did" advisory. The tagline of the speech, in fact, was: "A lifetime of achievements can be defined by a singular monumental mistake." Interesting slogan... read more about it after the jumpy! Continue Reading Motivational Speaking 101: Be Careful What's in the SyringeLabels: fanhouse articles, steroids |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Thursday, March 27, 2008 |
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| Ladies: Update Your eHarmony Profiles, STAT |
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Congratulations are in order for our dear Hideki Matsui, who got hitched this week - to a ballpoint pen sketch, apparently, but a marriage nevertheless. While we're at it, you might want to buy two extra "Congratulations onf Your Marriage; Why Wasn't I Invited to the Ceremony?" greeting cards for Bobby "I Still Haven't Exhibited Enough Personality to Earn Me a YC Nickname" Abreu and Jeter Jeter Pumpkin Eater. It seems that prior to getting hitched, Matso Ball Soup wagered a bet with the two, decreeing that once he tied the knot with his lady/sketch those two would have to follow suit. Jeter was givin a year to find a lucky lady and lead her down the aisle of Vegas's finest wedding chapel, and Abreu was only alotted six months to do the deed as he already has a girlfriend and thus is partway there already. I'm not sure how much money is at stake here, but I'd venture to guess that Matso has a better chance of collecting from Abreu than from Jeter. Actually, both of them have said that they might as well just pony up whatever dough is on the line right now. As Jeter put it: I got one year? No chance. I’ll give him the money today. That’s pretty good. How do you say sneaky in Japanese? Ain’t that something? I should have known he was up to something.” I think we Jeter fans should help out. There's no reason the man should that bet; he's a very eligible bachelor. Perhaps he simply hasn't got the time to take care of some of the important steps that lead up to securing a significant other, like setting up an online dating account or sorting through the sizable stack of phone numbers he surely receives daily. Jeter, if you're reading this (and I'm positive that you are, as YC is surely the home page of not only every Yankees fan in the universe but of every Yankee player past and present), keep me in mind as a potential matchmaker/personal date-finder extraordinaire.I hear that lovely young lady Britney Spears is single... Labels: haha...ha., jeter jeter pumpkin eater |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Thursday, March 27, 2008 |
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| Holy HELL I Hate It When... |
| Wednesday, March 26, 2008 |
...Jose Canseco defames A-Rod's good name with unsubstantiated reports of steroid use.Let me state upfront that I actually like Canseco - he's quite the fascinating character, what with the playing record, a marriage proposal to Madonna, his Surreal Life participation, and the rescue of a wayward owl during a Rangers game. What's more, I think that a lot of his claims most likely are indeed based on truth; after all, he did host a delightful steroids BBQ (like an 80's theme party, or a slumber party... but steroid-aliciuos!) and was obviously right in the heart of the 90's steroid culture (like punk rock, or nudism... but steroid-alicious!). HOWEVER! I am sick to death of his incessant insistence that A-Rod was involved in the aforementioned steroid "ring." Jose's second book, "Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball," on the subject is set to be released on April 1st, and A-Rod is a featured player. According to Canseco, he personally introduced A-Rod to a juice peddler. He admits that he did not ever inject him but maintains that A-Rod was in contact with the distributer and henceforth surely a user. This all makes my YC blood boil. I can think of several reasons to disbelieve his claims just off the top of my head: - Assuming this meeting took place somewhere in mid-1998 - since thats when the steroids bash took place - juice use would would indicate a dramatic spike in performance. Not so: every year since his full-season debut in 1995 has been similar: high batting average, good OBP, high slugging percentage. In his numbers were '98 .310/.360/.560 with 42 homers, in '99 .285/.358/.586 and 41 homers, and in 2000 .316/.420/.606 with 41. Furthermore, his numbers continued to improve nearly every year since then, and Canseco's allegations regard past drug use; he has not implied that A-Rod is currently on steroids. If he took them and then stopped, we would most likely see a subsequent decline in power at the very least.
- He has not suffered from extensive and chronic injuries that go right along with juice usage - see Klesko, Balco B, Nomaaaaaaaah, etc etc etc.
- Where is that distributor?
- His head is not the size of a watermelon.
On a funnier note, Canseco's anti-A-Rod ramblings include something of an even more soap opera-esque nature: he claims that A-Rod was trying to seduce his wife. JERRY, JERRY, JERRY! Related sidenote: I didn't realize that Canseco and McNamee disagreed on whether the Rocket was at the infamous juice BBQ. McNamee testified to congress that he was present, but Canseco said he was not. Interesting... thoughts? Labels: a-rod support, a-rod trouble, bitching, holy HELL I Hate it When..., steroids, you make me sick |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Wednesday, March 26, 2008 |
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| Top Ten Tuesdays: YCPOSTTF Part the Third |
| Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
I was up until 7:00 watching and live-bloggin' the Red Sox-A's game, and the YC is a sleepy girl. Nevertheless, I am dedicated to my bloggity and must persevere with our regularly scheduled Top Ten Tuesday. Top Ten YCPOSTTF (Yankees Chick Players of Spring Training Thus Far... get with the program munecas)10) Kei Igawa. Yeah, you read that right. I still think the Yanks should cut their losses and cut him from the team, but at least he hasn't humiliated himself this spring. He's made four appearances (six innings) and given up seven hits and three earned runs. 9) Farnsworthless. Yes, you read that right as well. He was going to be on the roster no matter how pathetic he was this spring, so the fact that he's done well is just a nice little surprise. 2.25 ERA 7 appearances. 8) Scott Paterson. He's never pitched above AA level, but he's vying for one of the open spots on the roster and making a case for himself - no earned runs in six innings. 7) Bobby Abreu. He's reminding us why the Yanks exercised his option by hitting .405 this spring. 6) Shelley the Spirit Coordinator. Let's chalk the stupid groin slide up to a little over-excitedness/forgotten Ritilin dose and focus on the .390 average and .419 OBP. 5) I-Ken. When the Yanks made him off-limits during the Santanamania trade talks we saw just how much the Yanks valued him; this spring anyone that wasn't convinced of his projected value should be by now. In 22.2 innings he's given up just 4 earned runs. 4) Jason Giambi. .417, 3 dubs, 3 homers and 8 RBI. Primed for a contract year! 3) A-Rod. Still no signs that the off-season excitement has affected his delicate psyche. In 34 at-bats he's amassed a .434 average with an .853 slugging percentage. That is very good, in case you were unaware. 2) Robby Cano. He was three for four today and such performances have become the norm this spring. He's hitting .464 now with 5 doubles, 2 homers and 19 RBI. I'm smelling a batting title... 1) Carl Pavano. 12 minutes. Read last week's Top Ten: Most Popular Yankees Chick Posts
Labels: pavano must die, spring training, top ten tuesdays |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
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| Job Opening Now on Monster.com |
| Monday, March 24, 2008 |
According to my construction paper countdown chain, opening day is just one week away. As such, Girardino has been hard at work tweaking his roster, and while most of the spots are filled he's still accepting resumes for a few.
He's selected his starting rotation - Wangster, Dandy Andy, Mike "My Pitching is Like a Box of Chocolates; You Never Know What You're Gonna Get," Hughsie, and I-Ken - but the bullpen still has some question marks. The plan is to go with seven relievers, and only four men have secured themselves spots: Jobamania, Farnsworthless, LaTroy Hawkins, and Mo. There are 16 pitchers down in Tampa trying to make an impression on Girardi in hopes of making the roster, but he has said that there are really only eight or nine that realistically have a chance (sorry, other dudes, you're efforts have been for naught.) Let's take a look at the most viable options:
Kei Igawa: Please go away. Cut your losses, Yanks.
Jeff Karstens: He's got a 9.64 ERA in 9 1/3 innings this spring, but the Yanks seem to like him and I would imagine that if he's not on the opening day roster, we'll be seeing him at some point this year.
Darrel Rasner: The Yanks showed that they have faith in him by signing him to a $7.25K contract this winter, and he's had a good spring, too. Mark him down as one of the three, methinks.
Billy Traber: This journeyman pulled an Aaron Small and came out of nowhere with a bout of impressive pitching - no earned runs allowed in 6 2/3 innings pitched. He's already on the 40-man roster, so expect to see him on the 25-man edition.
Scott Patterson: He's never pitched above AA level, but he had an awesome 2007 in Trenton with a 1.07 ERA in 43 appearances. Since he's never pitched even in AA he probably isn't going to start the season with the team, but it's good to keep our eye on folks like this.
There's only a few days left for Girardi to make his choice, so we'll know soon enough. Oh, and if you were wondering what he is looking for, the answer is simple: "Strikes is No. 1 for me. You have to be able to throw strikes. If you can't throw strikes, it's hard to have a lot of faith in what you're throwing out there."
Genius!
Labels: spring training |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Monday, March 24, 2008 |
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| Will Pettitte Problems Keep Him From His Pitching Post? |
| Sunday, March 23, 2008 |
I love alliteration. Anyway. Onward: It's been a tough road for Dandy Andy this winter. The HGH scandal was bad enough, not to mention the riff it likely caused between him and BFF Rocket (I highly doubt they're out hitting the links these days... I imagine the convo would be a bit strained: "so... how bout that McNamee..."). Just after dealing with that hoopla both privately and publicly, he had to head straight Spring Training and back into the fans' eyes. He was welcomed back with open arms and hearty applause, which I'm sure was a HUGE relief to the dear man, but he couldn't relax for long, as he's now had to miss two starts due to various strains. He was scratched from a start back on May 12th because of some elbow pain, and he wasn't able to pitch today due to some back spasms (sidenote: every time I hear that phrase, I picture a person's vertebrae literally spasming, like jumping through the skin. It's a fun visual). Luckily, it's not sounding too serious; he's already said that he feels better. Whether he's feeling like his self again is great and all, but it worries me that he's having these problems at all, regardless of how serious they actually are. Now that Joba's been confirmed as a bullpen boy, the Yanks' starting rotation has essentially been confirmed, with Pettitte following the Wangster as the number two starter and Moose, Hughsie, and I-Ken rounding out the five. If everyone could just stay healthy and Moose could decide that his good days would outnumber the bad this year, that crew has the potential to rank as one of the top five rotations in the league. The good news is that Joba could always make a few starts if someone does go down injured, but then the bullpen would have to rely on the likes of Farnsworthless to keep the games together in the late innings, and no one wants that. No, they better keep Joba in the bullpen regardless just to keep Farny out of my site. After all, we've got Kei Igawa to take over for whoever gets injured first!!!!
Labels: injuries, spring training, steroids |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Sunday, March 23, 2008 |
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| 2008 Season Previews: Toronto Blue Jays |
| Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
Welcome to the 16th of 30 " 2008 Team Previews", where I'm - you guessed it! - offering up a little preview of the 2008 season for each of the teams. Nothing super fancy, (I'm not writing books here munecas), just a few notes on what major moves the teams made over the winter and a thought or two on their upcoming season. I'm going in reverse order of 2007 standings, so next up is....  Toronto Blue Jays 2007 Record: .512 (83-79), 3rd place in AL East 2006 Record: .537 (87-75) Who’s Out: Ryan Houston (P), Justin James (P), Troy Glaus (3B)
Who’s In: Buck Coats (Utility Dude), David Eckstein (SS), Marco Scutaro (INF), Armando Benitez (P), Scott Rolen (3B) Notes: Like the poems I wrote on FanHouse for the NL West, I am writing some for the AL East teams as well. I did the one for the Jays today, and since there simply isn't much to say about the team I'm cheating and just linking you to the poem instead of trying to write something new here.
Here's the beginning...
The Blue Jays are a perennial also-ran
This isn't a particularly good time to be a fan
It's tough to compete against the Yankees and Sox
We all know how it's gonna look in that standings box
The Injury God has been quite a beast
There's just no contending in the AL East Read the rest! It's rhyme-alicious!
Next up: Atlanta Braves
Previous Profile: Los Angeles Dodgers
Labels: 2008 team previews, other teams |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
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| 2008 Season Previews: Los Angeles Dodgers |
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Welcome to the 15th of 30 " 2008 Team Previews", where I'm - you guessed it! - offering up a little preview of the 2008 season for each of the teams. Nothing super fancy, (I'm not writing books here munecas), just a few notes on what major moves the teams made over the winter and a thought or two on their upcoming season. I'm going in reverse order of 2007 standings, so next up is.... Los Angeles Dodgers 2007 Record: .506 (82-80), 4 th place in NL West 2006 Record: .543 (88-74), 1st place in NL West Who’s Out: Manager Grady Little
Who’s In: Manager Joe Torre, Andruw Jones (OF), Gary Bennett (C) Notes: The biggest move the Dodgers made was obviously signing Torre, and not just because they didn't do much else. Ushering in a new manager is always exciting; it brings about the possibility of a new era - preferably one of success, obviously. It goes without saying that the Dodgers are counting on Torre to bring his winning ways out west with him, and he's actually got a good team to work with. If he's smart he'll bench the guys that were essentially wasting at-bats - Juan Pierre and Nomaaaaaaah, for example, should have been rotting on the bench in favor of youngsters like Ethier, Kemp, and Loney. The Andruw Jones signing was one of the best of the off-season, as they got a good deal on him and he'll add some power to the line-up.
Just like the D-Backs, Padres, and Rocks, though, their biggest hill to climb is the division. There's more competition in the NL West than any other division, and just being good isn't enough. Next up: Toronto Blue Jays
Previous Profile: Minnesota Twins
Labels: 2008 team previews, other teams |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
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| Sidenote Saturdays: I H8 U |
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It's been a full week since my last off-topic ramble and I've gotta say that I've been looking forward to this for days! Why didn't I start doing this sooner?! I assumed no one cared what I do/think besides Yankees-related biz, but then I realized "oh yeah, this is my blog, I can write about anything that's in my brain!" Henceforth, here it is: Sidenote Saturdays, AKA Take a Peak into YC's Life Whether You Want to or Not. ----------------------------------- My mom and dad have known each other since they were 5 years old - they went to the same school and lived down the street from each other. When I was younger I had some strange notion that that was how all marriages began and was aghast at the thought of marrying one of the cootie-infested boys in kindergarten. ----------------------------------- I'm all Hillary. You? ----------------------------------- Much to my chagrin, I've noticed that I've adopted the obnoxious habit of using "Text message shorthand" when I send texts. C U 2nite! Can't W8! ----------------------------------- On that note, I HATE (h8) talking on the phone. Texts and emails are so much more pleasant. ----------------------------------- Xanax is one of the best inventions in the history of mankind. Way better than the wheel (someone had to invent that?) or the cotton gin (no offense, Eli). ----------------------------------- Siamese twins really depress me. ----------------------------------- That does it for me, munecas! I'll be coming atcha with some baseball later. I really need to catch up on those 2008 Season Previews, seeing as I've only gotten through 14 of them and the season is fast approaching. Perhaps I'll do two later - it's not like I have a "life" or anything. Read last week's Sidenote Saturday: Is Myspace Even "Hip" Anymore?
Labels: sidenote saturdays |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
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| Wanna Go to a Yanks Game? Bring Your Paycheck |
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In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos! -------------------------------------------------------- As if going to a ball game wasn't budget-breaking enough already, get ready to really go broke if you're one of the fans shelling out big bucks for premium seats want to see the Yanks at their new home next year. In 1996, seats in the third, fourth, and fifth rows went for just 25 bucks. Last year, folks had to pony up $250 for those same seats and up to $1,000 to enjoy the games from the first couple rows. If you're looking to plant your booty in a seat right behind the plate in the first five to eight rows, get ready to pay up to $2,500. 25,000 of the approximately 53,000 seats will remain the same price, including the $12 bleacher spots, but those other 28,000 tickets will increase in price. What willst thou get in addition to a place to park your ass? Clicky to read more! Continue reading Wanna Go to a Yanks Game? Bring Your PaycheckLabels: fanhouse articles |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
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| Farewell Free Agency... For a While |
| Friday, March 21, 2008 |
There is no questioning the fact that the teams with the most dinero have the edge when it comes to the free agent market - just look at the Yankees during the entire Big Stein era. It's incredibly tough for a small market team like the Rockies or Marlins to score a big-name, highly desirable free agent, simply because they can't afford to offer the contracts that the likes of the Mets, BoSox, or Yankees can. These days, though, it looks like the tide is changing and fewer players are in the market and up for the taking every year. Why might this be, you ask (or not, you may already know what I'm getting at, smarty-pants)? Tis simple: teams are wising up and locking up their young players early (did you get the answer right? CONGRATS! You win a prize - the satisfaction of being insightful). I don't know why the hell it took so long for so many teams to realize the plethora of benefits to such a modus operandi. I know it has been standard operating procedure for the occasional club in the past, but it seems to be only in the recent years that the philosophy has really caught on throughout the league. As I mentioned, there are reasons aplenty for locking up your youngsters ASAP. Wanna know them? I'll answer for you: SURE, YC! Bring it on! Hit me with your best shot! - By delaying the time that a player will be come a FA, the fans can get more attached and henceforth more faithful to the team itself. Just look at Grady Sizemore - he's attracted an entire contingent of women that are now devoted to the Indians that likely weren't big baseball fans before.
- The fewer free agents on the market, the better for those smaller market teams. Less need to extend 90% of your total payroll on one big name when you have you a roster full of guys that you're paying far less. Additionally, a lot of these contracts include a team option at the completion of the contract, allowing them to get the guy at a discount yet again should they so desire.
- On that note, it obviously benefits the teams by letting them get the players at a steep discount. When you sign a 21-year-old kid for 6 years, you're are potentially saving tens of millions of dollars that you'd have to expend on a similar player a few years later.
- For the players, the security and guaranteed decent salary has got to feel good. By knowing that you're not going anywhere (unless you're traded, of course, but let me go on with my point and ignore that for now) allows you to focus on your game and become loyal and fully invested in the future of the team. Take a look at David Wright of the Mets: in 2006 he was given a 6-year extension deal worth $55 million dollars, which is certainly no chump change for a 25-year-old kid.
The main downfall to this philosophy is that it can be extremely difficult to project the future of a 21-year-old kid. If the team is wrong or a horrible season-ending injury should occur, the team will either be stuck continuing to pay or have to trade him for far less than he used to be worth. Being a scout is now a more lucrative position then ever, as ball clubs need to rely even more heavily on their expertise when deciding to invest in their youngsters! Let's all be jealous of their job security as we all lose our jobs in this rapidly sinking economy :( Labels: free agency/arbitration, other teams |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Friday, March 21, 2008 |
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| Get Over it, Sox Nation: You Should be Happy |
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Surprise, surprise: Red Sox Nation has found something to be up in arms about. Is that group ever content with the state of affairs other than when there's a World Series going on? That's a rhetorical question, munecas, obviously. Their point of contention right now regards the Sox's admittedly tough upcoming schedule. Wednesday marked the beginning of nearly three weeks of grueling travel, including a long plane ride to Japan (sidenote: I went to Australia last year, a 13 hour flight, and let me tell you: I actually really enjoyed the journey. It was like a forced relaxation period with free sodas and snacks). However, I've got to disagree with those crazy Nation-ers (as usual...). They should actually be happy about this scenario. If we take a look at other teams that have had similar non-stop action to start the season, such a schedule actually seemed to prove to be a boon to their season. In 2000, the Mets traveled to the far east to play the Cubs to start the season, and what happened to that team? They ended up going to the World Series. A few years later, the Yankees also flew to Japan for their first games, and they too wound up in the post-season (forget about what happened in the ALCS. Impossible to do so, but try. I'm trying everyday. It's why I'm in therapy). I'm not saying it's a hard and fast law of baseball science that such a season start will prove to be an indicator of success, but the Nation - and the Sox themselves - should at the very least remember those past experiences and be more optimistic about what it could do for the team. Man up, kiddos. Enjoy the opportunity to promote your team in another country, soak up the excitement, and ride the momentum. Don't ride it too far though... not past the Yankees, por favor. Sidenote: the A's, who are playing the Sox in Japan, don't seem too upset. Labels: other teams, red sox rivalry, spring training |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Friday, March 21, 2008 |
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| Yankees Youngster Report |
| Thursday, March 20, 2008 |
In addition to my usual Yankees Chick posts, I have also begun writing regularly for AOL's FanHouse blog on all things AL East. I will post the beginnings of those articles here on YC, and then you'll have to click the link to jump on over to FH to read the rest... stick with me here, amigos! --------------------------------------------------------
Most everyone from fans to teams concur that Spring Training doesn't "mean" anything, but I am of the mindset that it means different things for different players. In the case of veterans, the most important thing is to just get a good workout and stay un-injured (eeeeeasy does it, Painvano). On the other side of the spectrum, Spring Training is a very important time for the young fellows. These games serve as a great rehearsal for the kids with limited experience and allows the coaches/managers to get a feel for how (or if) they can use their youngsters in the coming season.
In the olden days when the Yankees were essentially a group of expensive elderly gentlemen Spring Training was not much more than a month-long batting practice session. Nowadays, much to the collective satisfaction of us Yankees fans, New York is home to three of the top young pitchers in the league. I am, of course, referring to Philip Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and the illustrious Joba Chamberlain. At this point in the spring they've each pitched enough innings for us to take a gander at their performances, evaluate, and make some guesses about how they're going to perform in the coming season. Join me as I do just that!
Check out their vital stats and my truly vital opinions of them after the jump!
Labels: fanhouse articles, jobamania, spring training |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Thursday, March 20, 2008 |
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| Elizabeth Barrett Browning Can't Rhyme |
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Do you hate "real" poetry because you're convinced that your high school English teachers were full of hogwash and there there IS no symbomlism in that crap, and that if poets were any good at writing they would have written books like a normal person? Hey, me too!
Over at FanHouse us bloggers are crafting up some little poems about each team to get the literary fan contingent jazzed for the season, and I assure you: they are completely devoid of symbolism and they actually rhyme. I've written the ones for the five NL West teams, and if you'd like to check them out, simply click the team names below and allow yourself to be whisked away into the magical world of poems that could have been written by my four year old nephew!
Labels: fanhouse articles |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Thursday, March 20, 2008 |
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| The Red Sox Can Be Decent, Too |
| Wednesday, March 19, 2008 |
Just yesterday I was expressing some rare admiration for the Steins, and today I've got some kind words to say about the Red Sox. Shocking, I know, but it does happen occasionally.
They didn't play a charity game with a school in need of cheering up or anything of that caliber, but the Sox players did do something that the Yankees Chick extols: they stood up for themselves and people they value.
News broke today that the Red Sox opening day journey to Japan was in jeopardy due to the fact that their coaches were not going to be compensated. In a show of solidarity, the team threatened to boycott the trip unless the MLB agreed to pony up the dough for the non-playing Sox contingent. Obviously the league did not want to abort the trip, so an agreement was reached and the staff and coaches will earn some money in Tokyo after all, and rightfully so - as Varitek put it, "they're the basis of what takes care of us."
I'm glad the Red Sox did the right thing here. I have no doubt that they want to make the trip and that the boycott was just an idle threat, but it did the trick and got the message across. Their coaches were happy, too, and not just for the money but for the fact that their boys made such a display of appreciation for their hard work. Hitting coach Dave Magadan remarked that "a lot of people don't realize what we do" and that it's "nice to get recognition from the players." It's unfortunate to think that any coaches feel (or are) under-appreciated, because Varitek is right - without the behind the scenes folks there wouldn't be baseball as we know it.
Now all they need to do is donate a bunch of money to a good cause today and I'll be thoroughly impressed. Labels: red sox rivalry |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Wednesday, March 19, 2008 |
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| Cross Your Fingers for the YCD |
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Update 4pm PDT: YCD is off the operating table and onto recovery-ville, albeit minus an organ and a gland. Thank you for the good vibes: I'll credit my loyal YCR's (Yankees Chick Readers, obv) with a percentage of the success factor!!
My beloved YCD is currently in el hospital undergoing a major surgery, so I shall be incommunicado for - at least - the next several hours. Feel free to send some good vibes his way... |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Wednesday, March 19, 2008 |
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| Yanks vs Virginia Tech, AKA Big Stein Isn't Always a Jackass |
| Tuesday, March 18, 2008 |
There's a (well-earned, generally speaking) perception that Spring Training games are meaningless, reserved for getting veterans in shape while the younger players scratch and claw their way towards the goal of a roster spot, or just to impress management. Today's Yankees game at Virgina Tech was anything but meaningless. After donating a million dollars to the school after the horrific shootings, Big Stein proved again that he can indeed be a class act by arranging for his team to head up to VA to play a benefit game against the Hokies (sidenote: what is a Hokie? And while I'm on the college nickname train, what is a Tar Heel? Are there a lot of tar pits in North Carolina that I don't know about?). Even better, the Yanks didn't send just send a few guys up as representatives to show they cared - a majority of the projected starting roster made the trip.
By all accounts the game was an amazing experience. The Yankees were proud to be part of the rebuilding effort, the Tech players were living a dream in playing against the likes of Jeter and A-Rod and the school community got into the spirit 100%.
Enough articles have been written about the game by this point, so there's really no need for me to say much more, but I'd like to tip my lovely Yankees cap to the Three Steinmeteers for putting this together. It's a credit to their collective character that they were willing to put their team's training aside for a day and do something to benefit others. "People in New York ask what's the most important game of the year -- playoffs, World Series, whatever. To me, this is the most important game of my Yankees career. It makes you realize -- makes you think about -- how fragile life can be." -- A-Rod
Labels: do-gooders, spring training, Steinbrothers |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Tuesday, March 18, 2008 |
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| Top Ten Tuesdays: To The Way Back Machine, Kiddos! |
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Is it just me or has this off-season been going on for about a year and a half now? It's driving me batty, munecas. Not only am I fiending off a horrible case of withdrawal syndrome from the lack of televised games, I'm also suffering from a disease known to the media (do you like how I pretended I was part of the media there? By "media" I obviously mean "anyone that writes anything, even on a scrap of a napkin") as the "There Ain't Shit to Write About" virus. There are only so many YCPOSTTF awards I can dole out, and to be honest I need a brief break from analysing Moose's pitching and remarking on the fact that there have been about 3098123098908234 injuries incurred already.
So instead of trying to rack my brain for a Top Ten that is apropos to the current goings of our Yanks I thought I'd take us on a journey through time and revisit some of the old musings of your YC. If you're a long-time reader (thank you for stickin' around!) you may have already read these, but if you're bored at work or lounging about at home pretending to be sick so you could skip some stupid meetings at work you might want to re-read; if you're a new reader this will give you a chance to catch up on some old school YC! If you care.
Top Ten Most Popular YC Posts (based on number of hits, not whether you actually liked them. I can't intuit that, sadly)
4) " ALDS Game 2: Gnats 1, Yankees 0" Yes, I know I accidentally used "impervious" in the opposite way I intended. Twas a mistake. I was furious and slightly incoherent. Deal.
Read last week's Top Ten: Off-Season Injuries
PS: I'm not totally slacking off today. Stay tuned for some Billy Traber action in a couple hours.
Labels: haha...ha. |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Tuesday, March 18, 2008 |
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| Happy St Drunkie's Day! |
| Monday, March 17, 2008 |
In honor of Saint "THIS is What I'm Remembered for? Being a Drunkard? I Was Hoping for a More Respectable Legacy..." Patrick, I thought I'd write something with a alcohol-related splash today. And no, I'm not drunk. Yet.*
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PED's have been the talk of the baseball world the past few years, as writers and fans alike blame them for the increase in stats and records being broken. What many fail to realize is that players these days train year round and are very focused on their health, which accounts for the overall improvement in playing just as much as PED's. The caliber of players and the fact that so many of them are so successful can more often be directly attributed to natural factors; casting aspersions on the talent pool is ridiculous. Let's remember to give credit where credit is due. As I mentioned, guys these days work out year round to maintain their baseball bods (except Big Fatass Papi, obv), employing trainers to keep them in tip top shape, and not all trainers have a habit of injecting their clients in the ass. Some of them actually focus on, ya know, WORKING OUT.
Of course, even with the current health-conscious attitude that seems to dominate the game, we shouldn't forget the other little problem some folks in the game seem to have: drinking to their little hearts' content. There are the tales of drinking-related shenanigans by the likes of David "I Drank Beer and I Had a Career Year" [direct quote, didn't make that one up]" Wells and Mike "I went four for four [one of the times he was a drunken sailor] with 2 jacks and 8 ribbies" Cameron, DUI's, and don't forget the unfortunate deaths of Cardinal Josh Hancock and the women killed by Jim Leyritz. I'd venture to guess that there are just as many players drinking to excess and letting it affect their playing - whether it makes a positive or negative impact is up in the air; I would think it would jack everything up but apparently it causes perfect games and smacking homers - as there are PED-users.
That being said, even with the occasional drunk player, this era of constant workouts and B12 supplements is a far cry from the days of Whitey, Mick and Billy going out on the town, pounding drinks until 4AM, and showing up to the games hung over the next day.
So to all those players that steer clear of substances, whether its greenies, drinkies, or steroidies, I say "fine work, gents." Lift those mugs of protein shakes and egg whites and congratulate yourself on a job well done.
*Just kidding. YC isn't a big fan of drinking. Particularly green beers. Dr Pepper, on the other hand...
Labels: steroids |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Monday, March 17, 2008 |
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| 2008 Season Previews: Minnesota Twins |
| Sunday, March 16, 2008 |
Welcome to the 14th of 30 " 2008 Team Previews", where I'm - you guessed it! - offering up a little preview of the 2008 season for each of the teams. Nothing super fancy, (I'm not writing books here munecas), just a few notes on what major moves the teams made over the winter and a thought or two on their upcoming season. I'm going in reverse order of 2007 standings, so next up is....
 Minnesota Twins
2007 Record: .488 (79-83), 3rd place in AL Central
2006 Record: .593 (96-66), 1st place in AL Central
Who's Out: Johan Santana (P), Torii Hunter (OF), Matt Garza (P), Eduardo Morlan (P), Carlos Silva (P)
Who's In: 4 prospects from the Mets, Livan Hernandez (P), Delmon Young (OF), Jason Pridie (OF), Brendan Harris (INF)
Notes: The Twins have long been a model of consistency and resiliency, contending most years despite a low payroll, and even the threat of contraction years back. For 2008, they lose two faces of the franchise in Torii Hunter and Johan Santana, but still have homegrown Joe Mauer, and 2006 AL MVP Justin Morneau. Truth be told, the Twins probably got the best years out of Torii Hunter- while his character and intangibles in the clubhouse have a glowing reputation, $90 million and five years is too much for most teams, much less Minnesota.
Johan Santana is perhaps The Best Pitcher on the Planet, and Twins fans are lamenting that they don't have Hughes in the rotation and Melky in CF in return for him. While the Mets package isn't exciting, it's still a collection of four players who will likely contribute to the big team at some point, if not as All Stars. However, the Twins have a solid contingent of young pitchers available, including Fransisco Liriano coming off surgery. Promising young pitcher Matt Garza was swapped for Delmon Young this off-season, giving the Twins a potential offensive star, if he can ever settle down his temper and avoid throwing bats at umpires.
Unlike other teams I've previewed, while the Twins technically are in rebuilding mode for their new stadium in 2010, there's a minute chance they could pull off a miracle and contend. They have the 2006 AL MVP and batting champ, and if their young pitching staff comes together ahead of schedule, who knows. Regardless, with the surplus of young pitching and new position players they picked up this offseason (Young and Gomez), 2010 is looking bright for this team. No more garbage bags on the outfield walls either!
Next up: Los Angeles Dodgers Labels: 2008 team previews, other teams |
| posted by Yankees Chick @ Sunday, March 16, 2008 |
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