It's been a minute or two since I did a Top Ten Tuesday post, but back when I was blogging constantly (AKA when I had even less of a life than I do now), they were one of my fave posts to craft up - so let's bring 'em back!
As each member of the Yanks rolled into camp for Spring Training and were pounced upon by the media, every single one of them reiterated the same cliched sentiment: "we just want to repeat what we did last year." A lovely goal, but as history has shown us, a tough one to realize. There are so many variables involved in winning even one World Series - not just your own team's injuries, slumps, and luck (good and bad), but that of 29 other teams, too! - that winning two in a row is no small feat, even with a spectacular team.
The Yanks do have a spectacular team, of course - arguably even better than last year's championship roster. They've got about as good a chance of repeating as any team in recent history, but there's a few things that need to fall into place just right if they want any chance of back to back titles.
Top Ten Things the Yanks Need to Get Ring #28 in 2010:
10) A big year from Cano. Robby Cano Dont'cha Know had a dandy year last year in most regards - solid defense, stellar average, and a nice burst of power (25 home runs compared to his previous career high of 19). However... he couldn't always hack it in big situations and hit into 22 double plays. If he can get his act together just a tiny bit more, it'd be huge for the team. Let's just hope he's not too distracted by the loss of his BFF to play well - we don't want a repeat of 2008's performance.
9) A decent performance from the Gardner/Winn/Thames contingent. I've said several times that because of the depth of the rest of the lineup, having a mediocre player in that outfield spot isn't really that big of a deal. That may be true, but there's still no room for a wretched performance. Whoever ends up in that spot needs to at least be consistent and able to contribute to the team in some way - we can't have a .200 hitter going out there every day.
8) Minimal injuries. It's a "duh" one to even put on here, but really: some of these dudes ain't spring chickens, and we've got at least one guy that is particularly injury-prone (I'm looking at you, Nick Johnson. Try not to trip over a sunflower seed on your way to the dugout.) A rash of ill-timed minor injuries or a totally debilitating injury to a key player like A-Rod or Sabathia could be fatal. To their dreams. And anyone sitting near me when it happens.
7) We need the 2008 Granderson, not the 2009 one. Last year was a relatively rough year for Curtis, at least in comparison to his previous seasons - he only hit .249 with a .327 OBP (although he did hit 30 homers, which he can hopefully duplicate with the Yanks' homer-friendly right field). Worst of all, his splits last year were heinous - he only hit .183 against lefties last year. We need better.
6) No burnout for Sabathia. Sabathia has earned a reputation for being a workhorse, never turning down an opportunity to pitch one more inning or on one fewer day of rest. This was key last year, but can he keep it up?
5) Jobamania AND Hughsie need to be ON all year. Wherever they end up, they both need to finally live up to their hype - and stay healthy. Whichever one ends up starting is going to make a huge impact on the team every five days, and whoever ends up in the 'pen has the ability to be a stabilizing force on the team. Both are important roles, obviously, but it would also be a big morale booster for the team to see both of their young "future stars" finally become stars.
4) A drama-free A-Rod. I think after last year, we can pretty much confirm that A-Rod's attitude makes a WORLD of difference in his performance - and it also makes it easier for the rest of the team to relax and play their best, too. If A-Rod gets entangled in a baby-mama drama with a Real Housewife of New Jersey or continues to be thrust into the spotlight for past transgressions, all bets are off.
3) Jorgie MUST be able to catch (and preferably hit) as often as humanly possible - and he needs to hug it out with Burnett. No offense to Cervelli, but Jorgie better be prepared to play 140 games. Plus, with no Molina to fall back on this year, AJ's gonna have to suck it up and learn to get along with Posada - work on those signs, kiddos.
2) Mariano not to wake up and realize he's 40 years old and shouldn't by any stretch of the imagination still be this good. For a closer to still be this automatic at this stage in his career is obscene... and absolutely necessary for the Yanks' success. If the Yanks lose the luxury of being able to count on winning just about every game when they take a lead into the 9th inning, maintaining momentum and confidence will get a lot trickier.
1) Girardi needs to prove that his strategy wasn't a fluke. I cannot begin to count the number of times last year that I hollered and ranted about Girardi's "over-managing". By the end of September, the man was driving me insane - taking pitchers out when they clearly had more in the tank, giving people days off - I felt like it was killing the rhythm. Clearly, it worked... but I'm not sure I'm convinced it's the best way to do things. Girardi needs to pay close attention to his team this year and make adjustments if necessary (or not - I'm willing to be proved wrong again!)
What say you, YC-ers? Anything you'd like to add to the list?
When baseball is out of season, most of my ample allowance of TV time is dedicated to a healthy balance of traumatizing true-crime shows, reality competitions (often equally traumatizing), and watching oiled-up muscly men with no acting skills roll around (I'm referring to the WWE, not porn - just for the record), but last night I had to make an exception and allot some precious DVR space to a much different type of show. The Yanks' ever-cheerful faux-hawked right-fielder, the one and only Nick Swisher, made his acting debut last night on "How I Met Your Mother", a show I'd previously only heard of from commercials and thought was called "We've Got Doogie... and He's Always Cheerful!"
Calling it Swish's "acting" debut is a bit of a stretch, as he played himself, but the dear boy was charming and represented himself quite well (which is, sadly, more than I can say for Johnny Damon's cringe-worthily awkward guest host gig on WWE Raw earlier this year*). Swish's participation in the episode consisted primarily of him looking cute (a job well done) and wooing the ladies, dishing out sage observations like "aren't we all trying to find that special someone to share a toothbrush with?" I can't say Swish's skills convinced me to give Doogie and his cheese-fest a permanent spot on my DVR, but he really did do a nice job. Maybe next he and Cano can go on Dancing With the Stars.
B.Q.E. o' the Week: A-Rod Can Laugh at Himself as Much as We Laugh at Him
Monday, January 25, 2010
A-Rod's New York state of mind circa 2004-2008 (left) and 2009 (right)
When I posted the BQE with McGwire's non-apology apology for juicing a couple weeks ago, I noted that it was unlikely that any other quote would ever top that one in terms of idiocy and amusement factor. That statement stands and likely will for some time (because really, how are we going to top "I did this for health purposes"???), but A-Rod's reaction to winning an award for post-season excellence this weekend earned him a spot on the BQE list for a different reason entirely: it was sincere, endearing, and humble. In other words, totally different from any other BQE I've ever posted.
A variety of awards were handed out at the 87th annual New York baseball writers’ dinner in NYC on Saturday, from the traditional AL and NL MVP to more personal honors like the Joan Payson Award for community service (given to Carlos Beltran... that'll make his team feel better about him concealing his surgery from them, right?) and the Arthur and Milton Richman You Gotta Have Heart Award (which was given to Aaron Boone, obv). Our dear A-Rod was honored as the winner of the Babe Ruth Award (the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s postseason MVP), an award no one who had ever uttered the words "choke artist" or "A-Fraud" during the 2004, 2005, 2006, or 2007 playoffs would have fathomed him earning.
But earn it he did! His 2009 post-season numbers were indeed award-worthy: he batted .365 with six home runs (most of them undeniably clutch) and 18 RBI in 15 games, a performance worthy not just of an award but of a pardon for his prior playoff shortcomings. His amazing post-season capped off an equally impressive regular season, something no one would have expected after everything he'd endured in the previous couple of years (events which include, but are not limited to: a bitchy wife that wore clothes adorned with "Fuck You" to his games, a nasty divorce from said bitch, a romance with a near senior citizen with freakishly muscular arms [I'm looking at you, Madonna], getting dumped by said old lady for a 20 year old male model, opting out of a mega-huge contract in order to get an even bigger one [although I hold Boras primarily responsible for that one], being mocked by his former manager in a high-profile book, and a steroid scandal).
While accepting his award, A-Rod acknowledged both his record of crappy playoff performances and the personal problems:
“Postseason MVP. Wow. What’s next, the good guy award?”
Seeing A-Rod cap off an impressive 2009 with a well-deserved award and a humble, self-aware acceptance speech is a delightful symbol of his shift in attitude. Yankees fans have been hoping for a change like this since he joined the team nearly 6 years ago, and it fills me with hope for what we'll be seeing from him for the next 8 years. A relaxed A-Rod that performs like a champ in the playoffs? It seemed unlikely just one year ago, but he proved me wrong. Perhaps that good guy award is up next after all!
With the humiliation of Joe Torre's "let's all mock A-Rod" book, the steroid scandal, a divorce, getting ditched by Madonna for a teenage model, a hip cyst, and surgery that put him out of commission for a couple of months, A-Rod had a one hell of an off-season. Such turmoil could easily send even the most balanced person into a tailspin, but for a sensitive (fragile) dude like A-Rod, I must confess I would not have been surprised if all the trauma induced an emotion-fueled baseball breakdown. To be honest, I was steeling myself for an unproductive year from him.
Well, he's been back from his injury for a couple months now, and I am thrilled to have been totally wrong about his mental state and productivity! He's happy. He's smiling. High-fives with teammates abound. He looks calm, collected, relaxed. Best of all? He's doing exactly what the Yanks need him to do: hitting for power and getting on base. His average may be on the low side (.255 as of today), but that one little number is very misleading this case. Take a look at the rest of his line:
OBP: .402 SLG: .557 HR: 19 (and remember, he missed the first month of the season) RBI: 52
So what gives? How is a man known for falling apart in the face of 3 booing fans doing so well this year when by all accounts there is far MORE stress and pressure on him now than ever (one would think that the steroids scandal in particular would be weighing heavily on his mind as he tries to prove that his success isn't solely juice-based)?
My money is on his new lady friend, Kate Hudson. Crappy chick-flicks aside, she seems like a lovely gal, and best of all has a reputation for being laid back and fun-loving, precisely the influence A-Rod so desperately needs. Let's all join together in thanking her for calming our man down - don't fuck this relationship up, A-Rod!
The Yanks are in First, I'm Back, What More Could You Fools Want?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Well hellooooooo there!
Greetings from the Yankees Chick! It's been a long, long time since last I updated my precious little baby (and by "precious" I mean "the first thing to get neglected whenever I am busy"), and for this I truly apologize. Contrary to popular belief, I did not "give up on the Yankees because they suck" (an accusation I've received via several delightfully borderline-unintelligible emails several times since my last post; spelling and general idiocy aside, doesn't it stand to reason that that argument would really only make sense if the Yankees did indeed suck? Whatevs) or die, I am simply suffering from too-much-to-do-itis as I am in the unfortunate position of having to work full time AND go to school full time. YOU try finding time to bitch about Chien-Ming Wang and Cheaty Ramirez after putting in a 40+ hour workweek and seemingly endless hours thereafter crying/screaming/wringing my hands trying to figure out complicated techie crap for school.
That said, I've decided to kick the blog back into gear again. I can't promise the luxury of fancy regular features like Top Ten Tuesdays and Rest o' the League Round-up (all of which were prets lame anyway, let's be honest with ourselves here), but I assure you I WILL be updating far more regularly than I have been in the first part of 2009. Seriously.
After all, there's much to catch up on, from Manny being Cheaty (and why I kind of like that he's doing well now) to Joba being boring to the glory of the Yanks and Sox battling it out for first place yet again. Meet me back here later and we'll discuss all these fabulous topics in more depth!
After what has proved to be a wild ride in the world of the Yanks this past week, some fans are admittedly frustrated. We've seen some truly frightening pitching, the worst of which came from the Wangster, whose performance today moved him from the "well, anyone can have one or two bad starts" category to the more critical "pardon me sir, but what the fuck is wrong with you?" status, and we're down an outfielder (I guess the Cash Man was on to something with those 13289023890 outfielders after all) thanks to Nady's elbow - but despite all this there have been plenty of great things to focus on in Yankeeville thus far this season. So forget about the game you watched today and ponder all these silver linings surrounding the bad stuff:
1) Robby Cano Dontcha Know is BACK TO ATTACK! His numbers weren't great last year, but he finished the 2008 strong and he has picked things right back up in 2009. So far he's hitting .405 with a .468 OBP, 3 homers, 2 dubs, and 8 RBI - stellar!
2) CC's opening day start really was a fluke. His subsequent two starts have been just what we were all counting on from him.
3) Nick Swisher, our "backup/utility dude", has proven himself worthy of a roster spot. Is the lifetime .240-ish hitter going to finish the season with the .371 average he's currently rocking? Of course not. But is he better than the average utility player? YES.
4) Melky is doing his damndest to stay on the team. He lost out on the starting job to Gardy, but he's not giving up - every time he gets a chance, he's making an impact.
5) Mariano is still Mariano. Every year I think "maybe this will be the year he starts to decline, he is getting pretty old..." and every year he proves me wrong. Thank you.
6) Dandy Andy Pettitte is off to a great start.
7) So is AJ - and he's managed to stay un-injured!
8) Swapping the Jeet and Damon in the lineup is already paying off - Jeet has stolen 2 bases (that ain't gonna happen on Damon's bum foot) and isn't hitting into infinite double plays!
9) A-Rod is on his way back and is in great shape. Say what you will about the man's indiscretions, frightening choice in women, etc etc: he is one hard working man and will do anything to get back in action. He's been working his cute little booty off since the moment he woke up from his hip surgery and I have every confidence that he'll be back in full effect right on schedule as planned.
Monday and yesterday's games were admittedly a tad disappointing pretty disastrous. The Wangster and CC didn't bring their A-game and the relievers didn't look too keen on picking up their slack; we also didn't see anything spectacular from our pricey new toy over at first base. Nevertheless, I don't think there was any need for the sheer panic I was hearing from fans, much less the glee anti-Yank crusaders were expressing. Case in point, from the comments on Monday's post:
It's Wed. and yet again the yanks are lossing in the 5th 7-1. It's going to be a long year if your a Yankee fan. The best last place team money can buy. They spent 180 million a un-tested first baseman who is now 0 for 6 (hitless and clueless) 161 million on a pitcher who couldn't get one K in his first outing. Time to fire Girardi?????
First, the Yanks were losing, not lossing. Second... IT WAS THE SECOND GAME! I try to judge players on a larger sample size than, say, 5 innings. Third, since when is Tex "un-tested" - I'd say six seasons of experience is a decent "test". Finally, what does Girardi have to do with this? He had nothing to do with the contracts any of these guys received and can't force CC to throw strikes (unless I'm mistaken and he is indeed a puppet master).
Sheesh. Had this stressed-out commenter not posted anonymously, I would have contacted him and/or her directly to issue some soothing words.
Luckily, the Yanks took care of that for me by playing a fabulous game today. In case you missed it, here's the highlights:
Final score: 11-2
Burnout's line: 5.1 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Coke, Veras, Bruney, and Mo combined for 3.2 scoreless/hitless/walkless innings
Homers from Tex, Cano, and Swisher
Stolen base for Gardy
Molina threw out a potential base-stealer
Cano was 3-4 (I told you last year was an anomaly!)
So seriously: simmer down. Everything will be just fine.
muchismas gracias to ESPN, from whom I procured this glorious pic
The Yanks are back in the Bronx, but things were a little different from the last time they played at home. No A-Rod, Tex-Mex at first, new pitchers in the clubhouse, and, oh yeah - a new stadium!
The new Yankee Stadium opened its doors to fans today at last as the Yanks played the Cubs (why?) in an exhibition game, the first of two to be held at the new stadium before the Yanks head to Baltimore to open the season (again: why?). The lineup was quite a bit different than last year, with the Jeet leading off, and Texixeixeioxioewxioa in the 3-spot (Abre-who?), but these kiddos were hitting as if they'd been batting this way for years. The bats were on fire: Jeter did exactly what you'd expect him to do by grabbing the first hit in the new stadium's history (Ken Burns has already filmed a lovely yet slightly creepy retrospective on the moment, I'm sure), Gardner and Melky each had a hit (I think Girardi was seriously onto something by forcing those two to compete for jobs; A+ to him for that stroke of genius), Matsui hit a homer, Cody Ransom did his best A-Rod impersonation with a homer of his own, and Cano continued his fabulous spring with a homer himself. The Wangster didn't do so hot - 5 IP, 6 hits, 4 ER - but we did get to see Mo, Veras, Ramirez, and Albaladejo each pitch hitless innings!
Today's game may not have "counted", but it sure did provide an excellent glimpse into what this team is capable of. As I said the other day about CC, I cannot fathom this team NOT succeeding - I'll bet a burrito on the division title right now. Let's get crazy.
Between A-Rod's steroid-palooza and the WBC excitement (and my admitted lack of timely updates) this winter, I've barely mentioned just how happy I am that the Yankees pulled out all the stops to bring CC Sabathia to the team. It was announced this week that CC will be the starter for both Opening Day in Baltimore and for the first game at the new Stadium on April 16th, and for good reason. AJ will be solid and I expect huge things from Teixeira for years to come, but CC is going to have a bigger impact on the 2009 team than all the other signings the Yanks made this year combined - mark my words.
What I love about this man (besides his slim, sexy physique, of course) is that he is a true workhorse. He's obviously a talented dude, but what makes him a gem is his Energizer Bunny-esque endurance. After pitching 240 innings in 2007 he upped the ante last year, going 250 innings, bunches of which came on short rest or during complete games (or both). He pitched seven complete games last year - for comparison, the entire Yankees staff combined for ONE complete game in 2008 (courtesy of the pre-injury Wangster against the BoSox on April 11, 2008) - and showed no measurable drop-off even at the end of what was surely an exhausting season. No injuries, either! While he looks far from athletic, he's clearly doing something right.
The Yanks threw more cash at CC than any other pitcher has ever received (and Boras isn't even his agent!), but despite the cost it is arguably one of the least risky expenses the team has. After 8 seasons of perfect health (do a CTRL-F for "injury", "disabled list", or "hurt" on any CC article - you'll see) and extremely steady performances - the difference between his best years and his worst years is incredibly small - continued success is as close to a sure thing as you can get in baseball. Baseball Prospectus is predicting the following for CC in his debut year in pinstripes:
The Yankees have not had a pitcher like that in YEARS. The last time the Yanks had a starting pitcher power through 230+ innings was way back in 1997 when Dandy Andy pitched 240. Being able to count on a solid start from CC week in and week out is going to do wonders for the Yanks in terms of the actual wins he can provide, of course, but the stability he'll offer is going to be big, too. For the past several years the Yankees' rotation has been riddled with old dudes and injury-prone idiots (often one and the same, actually), with different people cycling in and out constantly. Being able to count on the ace is going to be a welcome luxury not just for us fans to watch but for the whole team's morale!
Am I overexcited? Expecting too much? Glorifying a fatass? Methinks not. I cannot fathom this NOT working out.
(Just stay the fuck away from my man, C-Pav). ------------------------------------------------------------------
On a completely unrelated "BTW" note directed to my fellow wrestling fans, I implore y'all to take a brief moment off from creating CC Sabathia fansites (oh, that's just me?) and check out Paul Heyman's site www.heymanhustle.com - even though WWE's been marginally less cheesey lately (Randy Orton is pure evil and I'm 100% in on HHH's justifiable rage), nothing beats the genius of Paul E. Plus, he's a Yankees fan. BOOYAKA!
A Good Omen from A-Rod and a Strong Message for the Melk Man
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ladies and gentledudes, baseball is finally here!!!
The Yanks kicked off the 2009 pre-season with a game against the Jays today, and they started things off with style with a 6-1 win. 18 guys combined for 11 hits, and both Brett Gardner and A-Rod hit homers in their respective first at-bats. The Ro(i)dster really soothed my worried soul today by proving he can set aside all the dramz and focus in on the game despite the awkward cloud of tsk-tsking that follows him everywhere he goes (although I must offer a pro-tip to my dear A-Rod: once you point your finger at someone as your drug-smuggling juice provider, you might want to avoid being seen in public with him for at least a couple weeks). Let's hope that emotional strength stays with him once he has to face the real world in New York.
As for Gardner, his home run made it perfectly clear that he has every intention of earning himself that centerfield gig. Pack your bags, Melky...
Up next? Hughsie is starting tomorrow. I'm giddy with nerves. Can you believe I'm still holding out a smidgen of hope for the kid?
After One Whole Week of Workouts, Who DOESN'T Need a Break?
Monday, February 23, 2009
The weather in Tampa was perfect for baseball, but Joe Girardi decided his team needed to do something more important than practice their athletic skills today. Instead of suiting up for some drills, Girardi packed the boys onto a bus and shuttled them over to a local billiards hall. The guys spent the day playing two 8-ball tournaments (Mo and Phil Coke won the first one, and then Mo went on to win the second with Dandy Andy!), playing cards, and shooting darts.
It sounded a tad on the silly side at first (workouts just started - there's no way you're burned out yet!), but after hearing what the players had to say about the experience, I think Girardi was really onto something. For the past few years, the Yankees have really been lacking any semblence of the "fun" factor. Regardless of how good their lineup was, they never looked like they were enjoying themselves, much less each other. With the exception of Cano and Melky dancing around and the occassional Shelley Duncan arm-breaker of a high-five, the usual vibe on the bench stayed well within the "stoic" range. Having the best talent is obviously important, but if none of the guys cares about anyone but themselves it's hard to put the pieces together.
Much as I hate to admit it, why the hell else did the Red Sox win in 2004? They were no better than the Yankees when you compare each position, but those idiots loved each other and were having the time of their lives. The Yankees were just going through the motions and that only got them so far.
So my vote is for more days like today. It gave everyone a chance to relax, but also the opportunity to get to know each other as human beings rather than just "that guy I work out with", particularly since there are so many new faces this year. Mark TexMex said it was the most fun he's ever had in Spring Training, and Damon said it made him want to work even harder for Girardi tomorrow. There's zero doubt that the Yankees are going to have one of the most talented lineups in the league this year - we can count on that. If they can play like they truly want to be out there with each other and not just to earn their salary or pad their personal stats, then we'll really have something.
It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's.... the Yankees Chick?!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
It's been many moons since last I performed any of my Yankees Chick duties, and for this I offer you my most Phelps-worthy apologies. I haven't been out on the Yankees and certainly haven't ceased following them, I simply ran out of hours in the day between work and school (and TV), and when I did have a brief moment during which I could have updated the bloggity there were so many things I'd missed to discuss that "catching up" started sounding like a chore.
Well, my love for the team and the enjoyment I get out of posting ugly pictures of players I hate won out over my love for sitting on my ass and watching crime shows, so I'm back! And not a moment too soon... the Yankees have been far from boring this off-season and there is no shortage of news both good and bad to chat about:
Yanks get CC, he gets a more slimming uniform.
AJ Burnett wins the jackpot... thanks to CC and Tex he gets to reap the benefits of a mega-deal and only be subjected to a fraction of the accompanying pressure.
Someone signed Pavano!!! On purpose!
We have a real first baseman! No offense to you personally, Giambi.
There are officially 107 outfielders on the roster.
No one wants to pick up any contracts this year. Owners should be thanking Bush for making the economy so shitty that it is no longer reasonable to sign a third-rate outfielder to a $10 million deal.
Torre is breaking my heart with this book. Granted, I haven't read it yet (someone wanna send me one? Torre? Autographed copy?), but I'm concerned that my amount of love for him may be diminished if what I have heard about it is accurate. A-Fraud?! Say it ain't so.
A-Rod, WHY are you playing for the Dominican in the WBC?! Do you not remember how irritated people were three years ago when you went back and forth about playing for them and the USA? You can't please everyone. You're not going to please everyone. Stop trying so hard.
We found out that it was MATT HARDY who'd been fucking with Jeff Hardy all along! The hotel attack! The hit and run! The PYRO EXPLOSION! IT WAS HIS OWN BROTHER!
Woops, wrong topic.
MLB Network! Good god I love it. It has improved my quality of life by a solid 1 percent.
Whew! Are you prepared for Yankees Chick to once again become an oft-updated blog? Will you put up with me?
Let's hope so. See you in the morning with...a VIDEO!
**ps: I even updated the poll and Fact o' the Day! DEDICATION.
Three long years ago, after the Yankees lost to the Angels to end their season (I went to a couple of those sad games), I sat down in front of my computer and signed up with Blogger so that I could do some baseball blabbering. I estimated that my target audience consisted of my mom, the YCBF, and my super-sketchy boss at the time (he was a big fan of blogging... and scamming people). But lo and behold, it turned out that www.yankeeschick.com is super similar to www.mileycyrus.com and a bunch of fat-fingered pervos typed in my URL accidentally! Better yet, they stuck around. Thanks!
Much happened during these three occasionally glorious years. I've gone through periods of supreme dedication to the blog with daily updates to times where I've had to push it to the back burner (AKA now), but never have I abandoned it. I've both railed and rallied Pavano, rolled my eyes at A-Rod and then defended him to the world, shed a few tears, mocked a lot of people, and helped you all select nondenominational holiday presents. I've had a grand time writing, scouring the internets for unfortunate pictures of Red Sox, and even recording videos back in the olden times (BTW, the reason I don't do them anymore is because I moved my computer and there's no longer a good wall behind me... and I'm too lazy to move a big ol' iMac once a week. Next time I move I'll make sure I set it up by a wall, so long as it doesn't jack up the "flow" of the room).
It's been a learning experience, too. I didn't write very well when I started this puppy, and look at me now! My writing has advanced to a level unrivaled by sixth graders around the nation. I've gone through several moves, a few jobs, plenty of personal dramz and I've met some interesting peeps along the way. The blog has been an overwhelmingly positive influence in my life... and hopefully a positive influence over the lives I have set out to change, such as A-Rod. And you.
Thanks for hanging in there with me, munecas. Hope you're still here for year 4.
BTW... a) This is the first time I've been able to use the Bern Bernie Bern tag in 9 months b) It is also the first time I've used Jorgie Porgie's tag since his injury
So! Y'all know that I've been more than just a tad disappointed about the FAIL way the team played in the middle of the season and truly think that they HAD the potential to make it to the post-season and simply squandered away their chances by playing sloppily and without passion. I do understand that a team can't make the playoffs every year and blah blah blah, but when a team is packed with talent it's still a disappointment.
Last night, though, I completely forgot about that disappointment. In a word, last night was magical. I know that sounds a bit cheesy, but I implore you to deny that it was just that. I could not have imagined a better send-off for the stadium - it was incredibly well done. The turnout of Yankee legends made the night so special, especially to see them all on the field. The highlight for me was the tribute and special attention given to Bernie, since nothing like that was done after his final game back in '06. I kind of thought they might take the opportunity to retire his number, but perhaps they'll do that once he finally "officially" retires.
Other fave moments:
Boomer! God I love that man. He seems like such good times, even though I fear that if I were to hang out with him (how 'bout it, Boom Dawg?) I would wind up in a jail cell in Tijuana (even if we were partying at a bar in NYC. Somehow, we would end up there.)
I'm so glad Jorgie was there. It was awesome to see him back in the dugout and chit-chatting with the Jeet et al.
Having Babe's daughter throw out the first pitch was the most perfect choice they could have made.
Even though he can be annoying, I appreciate them giving Michael Kay the mic for all the pre-game announcing. He's the TV voice/face of the Yanks and deserved the honor.
Mariano's 1-2-3 9th was the perfect way to end the game and cap off 85 years of Yankee Stadium. He's the best closer in the history of the game and to have anyone else throw out the final pitch would have been a shame.
Obviously, the fact that they won was ideal. Woulda been a bust if they went out on a loss.
Jeet's fan-appreciation speech after the game was classic and heartwarming. Things wouldn't be the same without all the hardcore fans, and it was nice to see the crew tipping their hats in thanks.
I am not one of those folks that think moving to a new stadium is some horrible act of sacrilege that will ruin tradition - I'm looking forward to it and think sparkly new digs suit the grand aura of the Yanks. Last night was the perfect way to end the era, celebrate the past and get excited for the future.
One last thing: I honestly and truly believe that ANY true baseball fan should have enjoyed or at the very least appreciated the extravaganza last night. I don't care if you're a Red Sox fan, lifelong Yankee hater, engaged in a plural marriage with Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez - last night was about history. I've already heard a couple Red Sox fans denouncing it and saying "YOUR TEAM DIDN'T EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS LOLZ" and I find that pathetic. Don't bother calling yourself a baseball fan.
One more last thing: Here's a vid of the final inning I found on the ol' You Tubez. Relive the magic!
Good news, peeps: Matsui and his busted knee are back to attack and in the lineup TONIGHT. He hasn't played in almost 2 months, but he was playing pretty gosh-darned well before the Injury Gods struck him down, hitting .323 with a .404 OBP. He only narrowly avoided surgery, which worries me a tad - a sore knee (possibly still partially full of some nasty fluid) could certainly preclude the hitting of a bunch of homers or stretching a single into a dub. He'll be occupying the DH spot (the Damster will be in CF), so at least we won't have to worry about fly balls sailing over his head, or worse yet, an aggravation of the current injury.
Let's all cross our fingers/toes/miscellaneous other appendages that he brings a spark to the team. If we can't win in Toronto and Baltimore, the already slim chances of a playoff spot are going to look mighty dim.
Oh, and Justin Christian was the casualty of the Matsui activation. Fare thee well.
The Red Sox have finally had enough of Manny Being Manny - "Manny being a difficult, ungrateful jackass" is a more appropriate catchphrase - and kicked him to the curb. Well, technically they traded him, but while Jason Bay is a fine player I think the Sox made a bold statement in giving away a powerhouse essentially to rid themselves of his bad attitude and refusal to make a real effort.
This, of course, is grand news for the Yanks. Manny has always been a Yankee killer, especially in recent times. Over the last 39 games against the Yankees, he was 60 of 132 (.455) with 25 extra-base hits, 30 walks and 40 RBI. Not only will they not have to face him anymore, but the Sox will surely lose a couple crucial games thanks to the loss of his bat (again: Bay is an above average player but he's no HOF bound Manny) and with the Yankees just a couple games behind the Sox in the playoff race this could very well be the deal breaker/maker for who heads to the ALDS and who saddles up on their leather recliner to drown their sorrows in the finest Natty Light.
By the way: did y'all notice that Manny benched himself BOTH times his team was set to face Jobamania? Quite the compliment.
By the way, again: Interesting/funny that Joe Torre will be teaming up with an old rival in a playoff race!
With the top of the AL East suddenly not out of sight, the Steinbrothers and Cash Man are pulling out all the stops to give the team the best shot possible to make it to the playoffs again. They already filled a couple holes with the great Nady and Marte deal (and BTW: I'm getting more excited about the X-Man with each passing day [and with each sweet RBI dub, of course]) and yesterday they made sure the trade deadline didn't pass them by before they could address another major need.
The move today was a surprise - and a GREAT one. The Tigers reportedly just started reaching out to teams looking for takers for Pudge Rodriguez and the Yanks jumped at the chance, thanks to the Jorgie Porgie's season ending surgery and Jo-Mo's inability to do much more than stand immobile at the plate. The best part?? All they wanted in return for this 14-time All Star catching gem: Kyle Farnsworthless.
Here's the deets on our new catcher: Career numbers: .302/.340/.477. 47% caught steeling record (!!) 14 All-Star games, 1 MVP (1999), 13 Gold Gloves, 7 Silver Sluggers 2008: .295/.338/.417. 5 HR, 32 RBI, 6 SB. 36% caught steeling record.
Much as I despise Farny, I'll admit that he's been having a decent year: 44.3 IP, 43 K, 17 BB, 3.65 ERA. I'm not fooled, though. We all know he sucks.
For the most part, everyone seems excited about the deal. Pudge says he's ready to move on from Tigerville and would even like to stay once his contract is up at the end of the year (he's got an option on the contract) and is looking forward to working with the likes of the Jeet and the Moose. As for Farny... there were tears, which made the hyper-sensitive YC ALMOST feel bad for him (until I remember how much I hated him and was able to get myself under control). Girardino was getting verklempt himself - he loves the boy and has been pulling for him all season. They'll get over it as soon as Farny realizes he won't be booed as much in Detroit (at first, anyway) and Girardi realizes Pudge is an awesome replacement for Jo-Mo and especially poor Moeller.
Speaking of Moeller... see ya on the bench!
BTW, there's still a few hours left. Are more trades to come? Jarrod Washburn packing his bags yet?
The trade deadline is still a few days away, but the Yanks have addressed their needs and made a sweet move to fill some gaps in their roster. The Pirates and Yankees have agreed to a deal that will send right-handed outfielder X Nady and lefty reliever Damaso Marte to the Bronx in exchange for Ross Ohlendork, Jeff Karstens (remember him?), Dan McCutchen, and the one true loss for the Yanks, OF prospect Jose Tabata.
Here are the deets on our two new players:
Nady: 89 games, 327 AB, .330 avg, .383 OPB, 13 HR, 2 E and 10 assists from RF.
The Yanks really scored with this one. The bullpen has been amazing, but getting another strong lefty out there is going to be a huge help when Farnsworthless starts really sucking and Jose Veras gets tired. With Matsui out and Damon better off as a DH, Nady can play left field on a near daily basis and provide power and average in what is at the moment a super-pathetic bottom third of the lineup. Giambi has been doing fine at first base, so he can continue to play there and free up the DH spot for Damon.
...the pitching has been positively lights out since the boys got back from their extended All-Star break vacation.
Peter Abraham broke down the pertinent numbers for us. Behold: 57 innings 49 hits 12 earned runs 12 walks 61 strikeouts 1.89 ERA
Look at that walk-to-strikeout ratio! And the ERA, my goodness!
And this has all been accomplished with a pitching roster than includes the likes of Sidney Ponson and LaTroy Hawkins.
Can they keep it up down the stretch? It's unlikely, to be honest. Sir Sidney will implode - hopefully just in time for Hughsie or IPK to make a triumphant return (wishful thinking?) - and Jose Veras will come back to earth. Jobamania will have a bad outing (unless he really IS superhuman). Moose will remember he's an old man. Mariano will remember he's not a machine. But what the staff has done of late is a terrific start to what we hope will be another league-leading, playoff-worthy second half.
What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, the Yanks were mired in a 2+ month slump, stuck with a pathetic 23-29 record and sitting 12.5 games behind the first place Red Sox. Giambi, Abreu and Cano weren't hitting, Kei Igawa was busy showing the Yanks that he wasn't even close to being even a third-rate Dice-K, Jeter was fumbling balls at short like it was going out of style, and come from behind wins were a foreign concept.
Some things are still the same this year - Cano is slumping again and Kei Igawa still sucks - but compared to last year, the Yankees are actually looking alright. They're only rockin' a .500 record and they're 6.5 games out of first (5.5 out of the wildcard, if you're already scoreboard watching), but it's a far cry from their performance last year and I think we should be feeling fairly positive about their work thus far. They've won some close games and had to do so without Jeter, A-Rod, and Posada for a good chunk of time; once everyone is back to healthy status things should pick up further.
Baseball Prospectus has projected that the Yankees will win 94 games and finish 3 games ahead of the Red Sox to top the AL East. They'll have to win 68 of their remaining 106 games - 64% of them - which may seem like a lofty goal to some but is surely within the realm of possibility once Cano starts hitting and Jorgie Porgie makes his triumphant (por favor) return this week. Do you think they can pull it off? Can Girardi do what Torre could not - bring this team to the Series (or at least the ALCS... another ALDS bust-out would be too much for my YC heart to bear)? Or will the team suffer the same old problems and choke-ness they've suffered for the last 7 years?
In 2009 Curtis Granderson published a book: All You Can Be: Dream It, Draw It, Become It! Granderson "shares the lessons that he learned growing up--the importance of family and choosing the right friends, the power of listening and staying positive, and most important, the value of being yourself."
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