 Saturday, August 18, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
Will A-Rod get greedy?
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said yesterday that if A-Rod elects to exercise his right to opt out of his contract at the end of the season, he will not return to the New York Yankees. If A-Rod opts out, he will then be eligible for free agency. Cashman said the Yankees will not participate in that bonanza. He also refuses to negotiate during the season, so the only scenarios are: A-Rod files for free agency and leaves the Yankees or he does not file and stays. The 10 days after the World Series will be the most dramatic filing period of all time. The Yankees are correct to play hardball, Boras has already said things like "A-Rod minimum is 32 million a year" so it is time to call Boras bluff and say you won't play that game. He either stays or goes. It is up to A-Rod. Does he get greedy? Steve's prediction: A-Rod will be in a Boston Red Sox uniform next year playing shortstop and earning about $28 million a year. Posted by Steve in New York
Thursday, August 16, 2007
NBA Highs and Lows
When we should be discussing the balance of power in the Eastern Conference and the entire NBA with the Celtics getting KG and Ray Allen, we have to witness renegade NBA referee, Tim Donaghy, sheepishly enter a guilty plea in court yesterday. Co-defendants entered innocent pleas. Let's see if names of players and other referees come up in this whole mess. Hopefully not.
Until then, I want focus more on if Reggie Miller is going to return to the NBA with the Celtics. If Reggie signs with the Celtics, the Celtics have to be favorites to win it all with three hungry veterans -- KG, Ray Allen, and Miller who have never won a championship ring.
More importantly, how will the Knicks, Nets, and the rest of the NBA respond?
Posted by an anxious Tank in NY.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Pedro's Comeback
There is so much hype over Roger Clemens returning to the Yankees, that we have all but forgotten Pedro Martinez. Pedro made several simulated starts over the past month and had his second rehab start for for the Mets A Gulf Coast team. (Note to Omar-why not have him pitch a game for the Coney Island Cyclones so NY Fans can go out and show their love and support?) Pedro retired the first nine batters he faced yesterday against the Dodgers’ Gulf Coast League team. In the 4th inning, he threw 29 pitches and allowed a three-run homer. After the 60 pitch outing, Pedro went to the bullpen and threw 20 pitches, all fastballs. He was seen in the 84- to 85-mile-an-hour range and had one at 88. This is all good. The real question is how fast has the arm come back and can he get into a 5 day rotation. The Mets need a shot in the arm and Pedro maybe it.Pedro's presence in the dugout when he returns by early September will be a boost for the team. The Mets need some pitching help right now (as well as a catcher!), but unfortunately then need middle relief more than starting pitching. Posted by Steve in New York.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto, R.I.P.
Mr. Steinbrenner was correct in saying that Heaven needed a shortstop, Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto, who passed earlier today. Scooter was a great player and broadcaster. His playing days preceded my birth but I knew that he never let anyone, including the great Casey Stengel stand in his way. Stengel told him that he should shine shoes but he went to win seven World Series and an AL MVP amongst other awards. He may have been short at 5-foot-6 but his heart was bigger than them all. That's what determination can do.
Scooter's broadcasting days shaped my youth. I listened to his radio broadcasts on WCDO in Walton, New York. His trademark "Holy cow!" became a staple in more ways than one as I grew up on a dairy farm. That was the beginning of my comedy career. 
I can close my eyes, listen to the memorized tape of his radio broadcasts in my head, and let the game unfold in the "Theatre of the Mind". That was Scooter's gift to me and millions of other kids. He will be missed. Godspeed Scooter!
Photo courtesy of the Yankees.com. Posted by a mourning Tank in NY.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Tied for the Wild Card, Four Back of the Division Lead
Thanks to a sweep of the host Cleveland Indians, the Yankees moved into a first place tie with the Seattle Mariners for first place in the Wild Card. The Mariners have two games in hand -- one less loss and win, respectively, than the Yankees.
The Red Sox also thankfully blew two late leads against the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend so the Yankees thankfully moved within four games of the AL East lead.
Keep the faith!
Posted by a hopeful Tank in NY.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Marlins at the Mets, the Tank's Unique Shea Doubleheader
In the spirit of sequels and unique doubleheaders, I returned to Shea Saturday for the Florida Marlins at the Mets. Tom Glavine is going for career victory # 301. I am joined by my college friend Bellerose(Queens) Alex who lives in DC but visiting home for a couple weeks. It's great catching up with Alex who I haven't seen since NJ/DC/NY Steve's October 2004 wedding.
My left calf is still tight and I am limping from Saturday morning's Run to Home Plate (RTHP) so I am a little concerned.
Luis Olsen is pitching for the Marlins.
Jose Reyes Spanish Academy's phrase is "Necesito una servilleta" - "I need a napkin."
Glavine escapes a bases loaded jam in the fourth. Two groundouts to Delgado and a groundout to Glavine who threw it to Lo Duca to get the force at home. Awesome!
David Wriight drives Castillo home with a 400 foot bomb to the left center bleachers in the fourth. Delgado gets on with a infield hit because of the shift.
One run in the sixth but Glavine tossed underhand to get the out at home. Mets 2 - Marlins 1.
DW's second home run went a little farther and to the left center bleachers. At the end of six, Mets 3 - Marlins 1.
With one on and one out in the seventh, Glavine leaves to a standing ovation and at 104 pitches. Mota replaced him. Mota ended up loading the bases on a hit and walk and then gave up a grand slam home run to make it 5-3. It's a good thing Glavine got his 300th win last Sunday at Wrigley.
Milledge and Castro singled. Jose bunted and hit by the ball while running down the first base line. Milledge scores. Runners at first and third with no one out while Castillo comes up to bat. Justin Miller
tries to keep Jose at first but Jose steals on a 2-1 count. Castillo grounds out to the second baseman but Castro scores.
Will DW hit his third straight home run? Kevin James of the "King of Queens" and "I pronounce you Chuck and Larry" starts the "Let's Go Mets". DW flies down to the right field line, Jose tags third, but is tagged out at home. Alex and I thought he was safe as he got his hand around the tag. But at the end of seven, the game is tied at 5.
Heilman loads the bases with two outs and of course gives up a two run single to Miguel Cabrera. Marlins 7 - Mets 5. The Mets bullpen officially needs help.
Milledge and Castro flew out to the warning track in center. Reyes walks with two out but Beltran pinch hits but is out to end the game.
My undefeated streak at Shea is broken as the Marlins beat the Mets 7-5.
Posted by a concerned Tank reporting live from Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Run to Home Plate, Saturday at Shea, Part 1
What is the Run to Home Plate (RTHP) you may ask? The New York Road Runners and the Mets combined to give the average fan a chance to run to home plate at Shea like a Met. What a thrill!
This is my second year doing the RTHP. It was rescheduled from a few weeks ago which was when I was battling a slight tear in my left calf. Today is my first race back so I am a little nervous.
The 7 Train thankfully made good time out to Shea as there is hardly anyone on it is almost midway between the finish of Friday night's game and the start of Saturday night's game. I looked up from writing and happened to see PS1 which Kathleen suggested as a group get together. My idea was to
see Erasure and/or the Beastie Boys at McCarren Pool. So many good ideas, so little time.
Time to get ready for the 5k (3.1 mile) race that begins in the Shea parking lot, goes to and around the Unisphere in Flushing Meadow Park, run back around Shea, and into Shea through center field, take a quick left, run along the warning track to the right field line, and then a quick right down the first baseline to finish at home plate. The thousands of us didn't actually step on home plate because of possible damage to it and the field but you get the idea.
Back to the start in the Shea parking lot. There isn't much of it left as cranes move metal and concrete around to build the new Citi Field.
I am grateful that the regular NYRR announcer isn't making his usual annoying announcements. The regular announcer must be in Central Park at training run. Steve and Kathleen and Linda are somewhere are in Denmark and Upstate, respectively, smiling.
The new announcer does double duty and a great job singing the National Anthem. The starting horn is about to go off as I pray for a healthy race.
"Errrrr!" blasts off at the Start Line and I am off. I have to stay within myself and run slow and steady. I promised my roommate and other friends to take it easy. It's hard to do as my juices get flowing as
the "Let's Go Mets" theme plays after the starting horn goes off. My left calf tightens about a quarter mile in and I had to stop to stretch it out. Back on the course. I pass under the Grand Central Parkway
coaching myself to keep it slow and steady. The pain diminishes slightly as I get to the first water stop which I walk through to rehydrate and rest my legs. Time to move and I get to the Mile 1 marker in 8:45. OK, slower than last year but I need to finish this year as my third of nine qualifying races for guaranteed entry in the 2008 NYC Marathon.
I see the Unisphere and know if I get around it that I am more than half home. I start getting a good rhythm where I get good speed and can bear the pain in the left calf. I run the second mile in 8:33 (17:18 total) because I didn't have to stop to stretch and the walk stop is on the other side of the Mile 2 marker. I walk through the water stop to rehydrate and rest.
I can see Shea and know it's almost home. Through the parking lot and by my normal gate, Gate B, and around Shea to the entrance. I reach Mile 3 in 8:02 (25:20 total). Only a tenth of a mile (0.1) left. I
usually love running on a softer surface like along the reservoir in Central Park but I have to extend and pull the calves too much to get traction. Therefore, slow and steady and I finish in 26:25. Hey, a minute slower than last year but I'll take it. "Put it in the books!" as Mets radio announcer Howie Rose would say after each Mets win.
My fellow runners and I aren't allowed to hang out around home plate except for those with medical emergencies. My left calf is tight but okay thank God.
Posted by a grateful Tank live from the Run to Home Plate at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens
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