 Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Bud Selig Made the Right Call
With so many scandals in the world of sports, I decided to comment on the Barry Bonds scandal. Now that MLB commissioner Bud Selig has decided to come to San Francisco games there is a little less suspense in the air, but Bud did not really give Barry a ringing endorsement, he said: "I felt it was the right thing to do," Selig said of joining the Bonds chase Tuesday in San Francisco. "I decided I would rather be here than sitting at home watching the game on TV and listening to my wife grumble about me watching the game on TV." The bottom line is this. The home run record is the most sacred of all sports records in the USA. The baseball commissioner has to be there, even if we get Barry Bonds-756*. Last time I checked we are not living in the Soviet Union, but in the USA where everyone is innocent until proven guilty. The media has convicted the man already. Everyone thinks he has cheated, even Patrick Arnold. While I personally believe that Barry Bonds has been cheating and I also feel that in the late 90s after the strike Selig turned a blind eye to the cheating, so he is at fault as well. At the moment, there is no clear and convincing proof that Barry cheated. Until that proof surfaces, we have to treat Barry with the respect he deserves. That said I will still boo him at Shea. Posted by Steve in New York.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Playboy's Miss November 2007
Life is about beating the odds and I recently beat them in Los Angeles -- I met a supermodel. Yes, on July 4 of all days celebrating America beating the odds as the 13 fledgling colonies declared and won independence from England.
I was on vacation but had to file this report as another SteveAndTheTank.com exclusive. Months before the rest of the world will know her name and face, I met Playboy's Miss November 2007, Lacey Von Erich. Lacey is the daughter of wrestling legend Kerry Von Erich. Kerry was another of the many professional wrestlers to tragically die young.
What's Lacey like? She's really nice and down to earth. We are pictured below at an LA bar.
We hung out with mutual friends and I spun her around to the tune of Lynyrd Skyrnyd's "Sweet Home Alabama".
Life is about living your dreams and I am thankful to live one of mine and meet a supermodel. To quote "Journey", "Don't Stop Believin'" -- see you at the Playboy Mansion. 
Posted by the Tank reporting Live from Los Angeles, California.
Monday, July 23, 2007
D-Rays Versus the Yankees "300"
Before the Yankees' great offensive displays on Saturday and Sunday, I witnessed the Yankees 14-4 loss at the Stadium on Friday night.
The Yankees had early chances on Friday night but D-Rays made some good defensive plays. Mike Mussina gave up four runs in the third inning including a two run upper deck home run to B.J. Upton. He must have pitched 30 plus pitches in the inning. Moose only went 4.2 innings. Ramirez gave up a grand slam home run. D-Rays 9 - Yankees 0 at the end of five. Edwin Jackson pitched a four hitter through six innings and lowered his ERA to 6.65. His record is improved to 2-9. He gets his second win against the Yankees. Just our luck.
Time for the Tank to put on his rally cap. You know I did.
After the D-Rays added a run in the top of the seventh, Andy Phillips hit a solo shot in the bottom of the inning to make it 10-1. Jeter singles with two outs but Abreu struck out swinging on a full count.
The D-Rays added another run in the eighth off Brian Bruney and another two off Ron Villone.
In the bottom of the eighth, Will Nieves hit a double off the right field wall to drive home Miguel Cairo. Cano singles home Nieves. Shelley Duncan's first career hit and RBI drives home Cano. Damon singles to center. "The Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!" John Belushi's character in "Animal House" says as the D-Rays go to the bullpen. D-Rays 13 - Yankees 4 with two out in the eighth inning. Out of a hearly full house of over 53,000 at the beginning of the game, there are MAYBE 5,000 people left total (more like "300") and we are going wild. Tampa brings in their closer to strike out Cabrera looking. (Cabrera was batting for Villone.) D-Rays 13 - Yankees 4 at the end of eight innings.
Scott Procter gives up a solo shot to B.J. Upton in the top of the ninth. D-Rays 14 - Yankees 4.
After Matsui hit a popfly in the bottom of the ninth, I yelled "drop it" from the left field bleachers and the D-Rays second basemen dropped it by the first base line. Matsui advanced to second. Gotta love the Little League "drop it" cheer!
After nearly four hours, Nieves struck out to end the game with a 14-4 loss. It would be Nieves next to last day. It would be Nieves next to last day before assignment. It's a shame to see him go but nice to see the Yankees acquire veteran Angels catcher Jose Molina.
Bottom Line: Though the Yankees lost, we didn't quit, especially the backups and diehard fans. Most encouraging were the five year old girl and her six year old brother a few rows in front of me in my section who led the Y-A-N-K-E-E-S cheers. They give me hope for the future in a world gone mad. Fueled by the youth who will lead us in the future, the Yankees to come back and capture the next three games. Just what the doctor ordered.
Keep the faith! Go Yankees!
Posted by the Tank reporting Live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
How Much Will Referee Tim Donaghy Hurt the NBA's Integrity?
I follow the NBA pretty closely but am shocked to learn of the latest accusations of an NBA points fixing scandal. 40 year old referee Tim Donaghy is the son of a college referee.
From different accounts that I have heard, it is very difficult to fix games because every referee is graded on every call they make and don't make. How he shaved points is beyond me and possibly the NBA and the FBI.
After low television ratings in last month's NBA Finals, this scandal is the last thing the NBA needs. The integrity of the sport is at stake.
I hope to write less about scandals and off the field nonsense and get back to on the field stuff in the near future.
Posted by a puzzled Tank in NY.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
All Dogs Go to Heaven and Michael Vick Is Going to Jail, H*ll, ....?
You have to be living under a rock to not be aware of the alleged Michael Vick animal cruelty story.
I read the indictment and am repulsed. As a lover of animals (especially dogs who are man's best friend), I am about to throw up and get violent. I am even more upset than when my family's dog, Pesly, was killed by a motorcyclist who accidentally ran over our dog when I was seven. When I was 14, another family dog, Archie, was accidentally killed was by a car whose driver didn't have the decency to stop and apologize. Those were accidents, NOT electrocuting, shooting, and breeding dogs through rape stands according to the indictment. This makes me even more angry because Vick and his associates allegedly engaged in intentional acts.
Not as inhumane but just as glaring is the NFL's lack of corrective action on this issue. The NFL tried to clean up its act during this off season with a Personal Code of Conduct to police in appropriate actions. Pacman Jones learned the hard way as he was suspended for the season WITHOUT being indicted like Michael Vick (a/k/a "Okkie" named in the indictment).
Was Vick not yet suspended because he is one of the faces of the NFL? The second highest paid player? I am not a mind reader but you have to be a fool not to follow the money. At least Nike had the decency to suspend the launch of his shoe.
Yes, Vick deserves his day in court but the NFL doesn't need to be distracted by this scandal and should suspend Vick for the season like Pacman Jones. You can't have one standard for superstars and another for everyone else. It's not a good example for kids, sponsors, etc. Training camp opens in a few days. Your move Commissioner Goodell.
Posted by an angry Tank in NY.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Talking Baseball With Mets GM Omar Minaya
Along with Kathleen and Linda, Steve and the Tank were honored to listen to and meet Mets General Manager Omar Minaya in Midtown Manhattan. I was enroute to this special meet and greet event when the NYC Steam Explosion occurred.
Omar talked about his humble beginnings after an introduction by and during a question and answer session with a New York Times writer. His cousins were involved in the fighting against former dictator Rafael Trujillo. He got his first pair of sneakers after his Mom won in a numbers game with the numbers 545. He and his family moved to the City where he was eight years old. His Dad worked on the Brooklyn docks. Omar compared his life with all of its good and bad choices to Z in "A Bronx Tale". The only differences is that Omar lived in Queens and thankfully made the right choices.
Omar was all City at Newtown High School. (Steve's Dad, Big Al, is also an alum of Newtown.) Omar was drafted was drafted in the 14th round by the Oakland As. He traded his aluminum bats of high school for the wood bats of Oakland's minor league Oregon affiliate. Though he didn't get to the majors, he played baseball in Tuscany, Italy, for two years. He came back home and worked as a model, bouncer, and actor appearing as a catcher in an ad with Willie Randolph. There paths would cross later in life. To make ends meet, Omar even applied to be a flight attendant.
He got his break in baseball's executive ranks as Dominican Republic scout for the Texas Rangers. He discovered Sammy Sosa in 1986. He also discovered Fernando Tatis and Richie Arrellia who he is most proud of drafting in the 25th Round. While working for the Rangers, he got to know George W. Bush, the owner long before he became a born again Christian and President. "He was great to work for. He has a passion for baseball." Omar said that President Bush wanted to be Major League Baseball's Commissioner instead of President. They are still friends and thinks the Mets will go to the World Series this year. (President Bush thinks Detroit will win the World Series which I respectfully disagree with.)
Omar has had to make some tough choices over the years. He was interviewed eight to ten times as the mandated "minority" interviewee when the job was going to someone else. For instance, he was offered the Co-GM spot of the Mets alongside Jim Duquette in 2003. His dream job in his home town but he chose to stick to his guns and wait for the top job. Though "very enticing", he didn't want "half a GM." This was an anguishing choice as he had only six employees in the soon to be relocated Montreal Expos. Six employees is a fraction compared to the Mets and other clubs have about 150 or so employees. Omar only had 72 hours to field a team with no trainers and the lowest payroll. He respected the tradition of the Montreal Royals with Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente. Even though the Expos were based in Montreal, they played many of their "home" games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Omar weathered all the challenges and his patience and persistence paid off when he became the Mets GM in 2004.
During the question and answer session, Omar clarified that he does not have a riff with Manager Willie Randolph. Willie is very loyal to his friend like hitting coach Rick Down who was fired last week. It was a very tough decision. He admired Willie's professionalism and there is "nothing going on" between them. He only disagrees with Willie if the bullpen isn't warming up or putting Smith in the game who is a better fielder than Feliciano when the other team is trying to bunt. Omar works with the manager to pick the coaches but reserves the right to say no. Omar says other GMs sometimes put the coaches out there without consulting the manager. Speaking of tough choices, Omar broke the news to the crowd that he had to trade his friend Julio Franco to the Braves. Julio wasn't getting enough bats with the Mets.
Steve and the Tank asked questions about Jose Reyes and Gary Sheffield, respectively. I complimented him on the great job with Ralph Kiner Night last Saturday at Shea. Moreover, he has succeeded in internationalizing the Mets both locally and abroad. I asked him about "idiots" like Gary Sheffield referring to Latin players being "easier to control" than African Americans. I asked him if Sheffield is missing the boat in the fact that (a) Dominican and other Latin players play year around in beautiful weather in baseball academies like the Mets instead of playing other sports and video games and (b) buscones (finders) are always looking for talent. Omar said that Sheffield is a loyal teammate according to sources he has heard. Omar did not condemn Sheffield as harshly as I hoped but I got the point. The New York Times writer agreed that it would be a news day when Sheffield didn't say anything. Steve asked about Jose's good points. Omar agreed that his improved at bats comes with maturity and good coaching. Jose's new contract makes it easier not to focus on individual things and focusing on winning games.
Omar likes to be direct in working with his colleagues. For instance, if Omar wants a player from another team, he will call his counterpart and ask "Is Dontrelle (Willis) available?" instead of beating around the bush. As for current deals, Omar is not going to trade Carlos Beltran for Grady Sizemore. He said he was in Trenton to watch the Yankees Philip Hughes pitch a rehab start. While there, he spoke to his crosstown counterpart Brian Cashman. He said that Roy Oswalt of the Astros is not available but Omar would be interested in him if he were. Omar is looking for an eighth inning pitcher and someone sarcastically shouted out Kyle Farnsworth. It wasn't me but it got a few laughs. No one is perfect and Omar admitted to not taking David "Big Papi" Ortiz when he had a chance.
Bottom Line: Omar is an example of "taking a chance, getting outside that box." Omar is the living embodiment of the American Dream. Let's go Mets!
Posted by the Tank reporting Live from Midtown Manhattan.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
NYC Steam Explosion
I was enroute to attend a very special presentation Wednesday evening when I saw people gathered around television screens at around 54th and Park Wednesday afternoon. People were watching television screens of the steam explosion in Manhattan. Since I am a uber geek, I have an audio television feed on my walkman which has AM/FM/TV/Weather feeds as well as plays CDs and MP3s. (Mega thanks to SuperTwin Gil for that tip.) Anyway, I picked up the action and walked toward Lexington Avenue and 51st where the presentation was held, ten blocks north of the unfortunate accident. (Thank God Linda, Steve, and Kathleen were okay as we met up for the presentation later!)
As I went to take a picture of the steam and smoke, a CNN photographer took a picture of me which appears on CNN.com (I included a JPG snapshot below because CNN.com continually updates the site as my photo was fifth earlier today and now it is eighth as more photos are added.)
My photo of the steam and smoke appears below:
Posted by a grateful Tank thankful to be alive, thank God, in Midtown Manhattan.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Is Rick Down the Mets Hitting Scapegoat?
The Mets fired their batting coach Rick Down last week after the Mets vaunted AL type line-up hadn't been hitting. However, I didn't think he was the cause of all of their issues. The Mets have had a number of injuries to position players like Alou, Chavez, and Gomez who are on the DL, Green was on the DL, and Delgado isn't 100 percent amongst others. Plus, the Mets rarely take pitches and work counts.
The Mets chose to go with Howard Johnson who is a fine replacement. Someone had to be fired and you can't fire players. The Yankees fired their "performance enhancement (strength)" coach earlier this season after his new stretching regime reportedly caused numerous Yankees injuries. Speaking of the Yankees, Down used to be the Yankees hitting coach.
For now, I'll give HoJo the benefit of the doubt. Let's hope the Mets build upon last night's 7-0 win over All Star Jake Peavy and the Padres.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
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