 Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Ladies and Gentlemen Your 2007 World Champion Colorado Rockies....
Last night playing in the relentless rain at Coors Field the Rockies won their ninth consecutive game, their 20th in 21 and are on the verge of a sweep of the Diamondbacks in the NLCS. Is there anyone who can stop them? No, order their World Series rings now. Sure they have to finish off the Diamondbacks and then face the ALCS champion Red Sox or Indians, but they are firing on all cylinders and will most likely clinch tonight and then have the rest of the week to take batting practice and wait for the outcome of the ALCS. The same thing happened last year, the Tigers were hot, blew past two opponents and then had to wait a week to face either the Mets or Cardinals. The Cardinals had a 7 game war with the Mets that went to the bottom of the 9th with bases loaded, but came back and beat the Tigers quickly. Some say that it is better to have the time off (Steve) and some say it is better to be hot and roll right in (The Tank.) Will history repeat itself? Steve has his money on the Rockies. (And by strange coincidence he will be in Denver tomorrow on business, maybe he can join the party for winning the NLCS.) Posted by Steve in New York.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
NFL Week #6 Picks
I was 2-0 in last week's picks thanks to Dallas' late comeback. I am 5-2 on the season.
This week's fearless picks:
The Jets beat the Eagles in a must win at the Meadowlands.
The Giants beat the Falcons on a tough Monday night game in Atlanta.
The Bills have a bye this week.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Friday, October 12, 2007
College Football, Alcohol, and the Tank Help Crime Scene Survivors and Witnesses Cope
JH and I hung out on the Upper East Side this past Saturday to watch college football, especially my game of the year nominee, #9 Florida at #1 LSU. While JH rooted for Florida, I rooted for LSU because I picked them. I couldn't help but notice eight young male professionals sitting to my right who were rooting for Team Alcohol. These guys drank everything -- beer, shots, you name it. They really didn't care who was winning and thoroughly enjoyed my sports commentary, especially my replay commentary of Stanford's successful 4th and goal conference to beat USC. (USC was 41 point favorite, at home, and Stanford's starting quarterback was injured. What the heck? But that what is great about college football.. So who am I to argue?
On various tables, there were sheets of paper which read Florida, LSU, Clemson, etc. But their's read "The Four Knives Club". Were they a college fraternity? Were they a secret society like Skull and Bones? I didn't say it out of respect to the Florida fans at the table to my left. The Florida fans must have been ridiculed after a young student was recently tazed for asking John Kerry about his membership in Skull and Bones. ("Don't taze me bro!" the young student pleaded as the campus police were tazing him.) No, they but a group who called themselves the Four Knives Club as they had witnessed and thankfully survived a knife wielding maniac who stabbed two people with four knives the night before at the Gemini Diner on the East side.
We often get too caught up in life about which team we root for. For the Four Knives Club, living to live and enjoy another day is the most important game of all.
Last Week's Picks Recap: The Tank was 6-2 last week to bring my season record up to 12-7.
This Week's Fearless Picks:
Rutgers beats Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.
#1 LSU wins at #17 Kentucky.
#6 Oklahoma beats #11 Missouri at home.
Posted by a grateful Tank reporting Live from the Upper East Side in NY.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Confessions of a Mets fan
Last Sunday when the Mets blew it I was close to 5,000 miles and 7 times zones away and many of my friends thought that I had jumped off the ledge. The truth is that I already knew they were going to blow it and was not all that mad. Mets fans were out for blood and in "shock" last Sunday and I was not. I was prepared for the collapse when I saw it was inevitable around Wednesday of the week before-and the warning signs were there a week before that. Not many Mets fans will admit this, but the implosion is just part of being a Mets fan. While I wanted to win, we have a history of losing and are use to it. I was not happy. Since I was prepared for the collapse it was not a shock, but it still hurt. I looked at the final standing and seeing Philly in first place while not really earning it, but benefiting from the Mets demise, poured salt into the wound. That said, seeing the Phillies lose in 3 straight games made the pain easier. Seeing the Yankees lose in 4 games and the turmoil it has caused made the pain easier. Watching the Phillies lose and taking joy from that is because they represent the chance the Mets could have had and watching them celebrate the NL East was not fun. So that made me happy. It shouldn't, but it does. Watching the Yanks lose did not make me happy insofar as the lose, but the aftermath of the loss takes the focus off the Mets and hey, misery loves company, all of NY is just plain pissed. So we are in it together. Now that the New York teams are playing golf, Steve and the Tank will cover the playoffs without a New York spin. We'll cover hot stove and the A-Rod decision and play the role of blogger GM. Sometimes the real fun is the winter trades and free agent signings, this year promises to be one where the Mets should spend like crazy for bullpen and pitching and the Yankees, well are the Yankees, expect them to run up the national debt for some sluggers and old pitchers. Posted by Steve in New York PS Steve also hopes that the Tank is more realistic next year and stops picking the Yankees over the Mets in the World Series in 7. (We all know the real prediction should be Mets over Yankees in 7.)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Don't Fire Joe Torre
All signs are leading that the Yankees will fire 12 year manager Joe Torre. Never mind that he has delivered 12 years in a row of post season play, 10 division titles, 6 world series appearances and 4 championships. The last three years the Yankees exited in the first round, and four years ago was the collapse against Boston. Yesterday GM Brian Cashman admitted, "I'm sick of losing." Hinting that this might be the busiest off-season of the last decade, with multiple free agent signing/departures on the horizon. This is exactly what the problem of the Yankees is. In years past the Yankees were about pitching and small ball. This won them 3 championships in a row and 3 in 5 years. They did this with quality pitching and small ball-nobody on the Yankees hit over 30 home runs in those years. Ever since they signed Jason Giambi and went the route of the long ball, things changed. They started failing in the post season. Good pitching shuts down good hitting and anything can happen in a best of 5 series. You witnessed it the last 3 years in a row. This is not Joe's fault. He has done the best with the team he has. We are judging him by the team performance in the post season. Sure there has not been a championship in 7 years. But each of those last 7 years Joe has managed well and gotten the team to the playoffs. Thats more than any other team can say, no other team has made the playoffs 12 years in a row. (Actually the Yankees are 13, but we are only looking at Joe.) Keep Joe Torre at least another year until Don Mattingly is ready. Posted by Steve in New York.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Is it Joe Torre's Last Walk to the Dugout?
As I entered Yankee Stadium, Reggie Jackson threw out the ceremonial first pitch on the 30th Anniversary of his three home run game against the Dodgers.
Instead of pitching Mike Mussina, Joe Torre went with Ching-Ming Wang on three days rest. Wang hasn't been good on three days rest but you have to be a riverboat gambler. Grady Sizemore hits a lead off home run after throwing initial strike. Cabrera grounds out to Mientkiewicz. Hafner grounds down the third baseline where A-Rod wasn't because of the shift. Martinez grounds out to Wang but Hafner advances to second on the force. Peralta singles to shallow center to score Hafner. Lofton grounds out to Wang to end the top of the first.
At the end of a half, Indians 2 - Yankees 0.
How will the Yankees answer the bell against Indians starter Paul Byrd?
Johnny Damon comes up to loud applause but grounds out to short. Jeter is hitting .083 in the ALDS and due to breakout, God Willing. The Captain delivers on the first pitch with a single to right thank God! Jeter doesn't steal often but has speed and steals in crucial situations. Abreu singles to the almost the same spot in right. My buddy A-Rod comes up to bat to the chant of "MVP! MVP!". Will he repeat Reggie three home run night 30 years earlier? It's unlikely, but that's why they play the game. A-Rod strikes out. Darn it! Posada is only 1 for 10 coming into tonight. Posada hits it to left but Lofton makes a great diving catch. Darn it! At the end of the first, Indians 2 - Yankees 0.
Gutierrez singles to center. Jerry DiMaggio is getting surgery at Sloan-Kettering according to the radio broadcast. Good luck Jerry! (Speaking of Sloan-Kettering, please sponsor me in the run against cancer in the NYC Marathon through my Sloan-Kettering Home Page and Donate links.) Blake singles past Jeter to left. Mussina is up warming up to pitch to Shoppach. Shoppach walks down first as was hit-by-pitch. But, was he hit by the pitch? All six umpires confer and decide that the original call was right. The Indians have bases loaded with no one out and Sizemore coming to the plate. That's it for Wang. Here comes for Mussina. Let's see what the veteran has. Can he stop the bleeding? Will this be like his 2003 ALCS relief appearance against the Red Sox? One can only hope.
Moose chants ring throughout the Stadium. Sizemore grounds out into a 4-6-3 double play. Gutierrez scores to make it 3-0. Cabrera singles in Blake on what should have been strike three on 1-2 and the Indians take a 4-0 lead. Hafner walks. Martinez is Paul Byrd's personal catcher. Garko is available off the bench. Martinez grounds out to Cano. At the end of an inning and a half, Indians 4 - Yankees 0.
Matsui leads off in the second. There is an argument at home plate. Did the catcher's mitt hit Matsui's bat? No, after argument from Joe Torre. Byrd was winding up and then Matsui calls time. The replay according to the radio broadcast proves Joe right but the Yankees didn't get the call. Matsui works out a walk after being down 0-2. I'll say it once, I'll say it again, you have to take pitches, especially against a location pitcher like Byrd. If he's off just a bit, you can get in his head. Cano singles to center. Melky Cabrera pops out to Blake. Mientkiewicz should bunt. We'll see if he does. Mientkiewicz fouls several pitches which is in my sayings "Increase the pitch count, increase the peace.". Mientkiewicz works out a bunt. Damon pops up to the left field line. Jeter hits the ball to Blake who keeps the ball in the infield. The Captain comes through again. Abreu pops out to center. At the end of two, Indians 4 - Yankees 1.
Can Moose stop the bleeding? Peralta leads off and walks after the 2-2 pitch was close. Lofton pops up to Melky Cabrera. Gutierrez strikes out looking. Sweet as "Moose" chants echo throughout the Stadium. Blake strikes out swinging.
Clips from the new classic "300" are displayed on the Jumbotron in right center field. Will the Yankees "stand and fight?"
A-Rod leads off the third. He can't swing a long golf swing to hit a five run home run. Just get on base. A-Rod strikes out looking on a pitch that appeared to be outside. Posada hits a double to the right field wall. "Hit Hit Jorge!". Matsui grounds out to first but Posada advances to third. Cano pops out to near the Warning Track in center. At the end of three, Indians 4 - Yankees 1.
Shoppach hits a ground rule double to lead off the fourth. Sizemore tries to bunt but stops trying after two strikes. Sizemore works a full count and walks. Asdrubal Cabrera tries to bunt. Asdrubal bunt was perfect down the third baseline. Moose throws to Mientkiewicz. Hafner is intentionally walked to load the bases. Martinez singles to left which scores two. Peralta grounds out to A-Rod who touches third and throws to first to get the double play and end the inning. At the end of three and a half, Indians 6 - Yankees 1.
Cabrera singles to lead off the Yankee fourth. Mientkiewicz bloops out to Peralta in deep, deep short. Damon pops up to right. Jeter lines out to Blake. At the end of four, Indians 6 - Yankees 1.
Hafner flies out to Cabrera to start the fifth. Gutierrez flies out deep to Cabrera. Blake strikes out looking. Great job Moose!
It's time for the "Will you marry me?" and Happy Birthday features in between innings. No need to panic ladies, the Tank is still available.  There were no proposals but a very touching thank you to a police officer for saving "Jeff's life." We often forget about the real heroes are in society and focus too much on those the playing field.
Abreu grounded out to first. A-Rod shortens his swing like I advised and singled to left. Posada lines out to second. Matsui flies out on the first pitch to shallow left. Darn it. At the end of five, Indians 6 - Yankees 1.
Moose comes out for the start of the sixth. Shoppach leads off the sixth as Jose Veras warms in the Yankee bullpen. Shoppach flies out to right. Sizemore grounds out to Mientkiewicz who threw high to Moose. Moose jumped and landed but the runner was called safe as boos ring out. John and Suzyn report that Sizemore is out. (This is another call that didn't go the Yankees way.) Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to Melky Cabrera. Joe comes to get the ball from Moose. He gave up two runs in 4.2 innings. Not great, but solid. Ron Villone is a last minute roster replacement for Clemens who can't pitch until the World Series if the Yankees make it. As in 3:30 pm Monday afternoon. A fan near me asks what the NFL score is and they are amazed that I have two Blackberries (to cover all the sports action for you). Bills 17 - Cowboys 10. Hafner flies out to Damon to end the top of the sixth.
Cano hits a solo shot to my right to lead off the sixth. Indians 6 - Yankees 2. That's it for Byrd. As the Indians go to their bullpen, the Jumbotron shows the "Rocky" theme.
Mayors Guiliani and Bloomberg get a mix of cheers and boos while Tino Martinez gets deafening cheers.
Cabrera steps to the plate while the "Let's Go Yankees" chant echoes around the Stadium. Perez is the Indians relief pitcher. Melky grounds out to Blake who spun around. Shelley Duncan comes in for Mientkiewicz. Almost everyone is standing except two guys in front of me. Shelley hits past the diving second baseman. Johnny Damon steps to the plate as the crowd chants his name. Johnny Be Good singles past the first baseman as Shelley Duncan sprints to third. Even the two two guys in front of me stand up as Jeter comes to the plate. The Indians bullpen has yet to give up a run. No time like the present as Perez throws another first pitch ball to Jeter. Jeter takes a strike on a 2-0 pitch. Jeter hits into an inning ending double play. Ouch! That hurts. At the end of six, Indians 6 - Yankees 1.
Farnsworth starts the top of the seventh. Martinez strikes out swinging. Peralta singles to left. Lofton fouls off a few pitches and flies out to Melky Cabrera. Gutierrez strikes out looking. Good job Farnsworth!
Get up and stretch! Roland Rynan sings sings "God Bless America." Well done Roland! He pumps his fist as he goes back to the stands.
Abreu struck out to start the seventh. A-Rod hits a foul ball a few sections from me. He then hits an A-Bomb to the Monuments. Wooo!!!!! My buddy A-Rod comes through. Indians 6 - Yankees 3. "Hip Hip Jorge" chants echo throughout but he grounds out to third for the second out. The Indians keep Perez in to face Matsui and Cabrera. Matsui walks. What a professional hitter! Cano grounds out to first. At the end of seven, Indians 6 - Yankees 3.
San Diego Rich checks in between innings. He asks if I caught the ball near the Monuments because it looked liked me on TV but unfortunately not.
Veras starts the top of the eighth against Blake and strikes him out looking. Shoppach doubles to Death Valley. It almost went out. Joe Torre comes in to talk to Veras. The Indians must be held here. Torre returns to the dugout as the fans chant his name. Sizemore is intentionally walked and then Joe pulls Veras to bring in Mariano. Is this Joe Torre's last walk to the dugout?
Cabrera grounds out to Cano who throws to Jeter for the force at second. Hafner grounds out to the Captain who gets the ball just in time to Shelley Duncan.
Cabrera faces Betancourt, the latest Cleveland reliever, and grounds out to short. The Giambino should hit a pool shot down the third baseline. Giambi strikes out swinging. Johnny Damon hits a foul ball which goes a section above me and then falls two sections over. Damon strikes out swinging to end the eighth. Indians 6 - Yankees 3.
In between innings, many fans start making their way to the exits, even a few Bleacher Creatures. Not the Tank. "Winners never quit and quitters never win.". A video montage of Tino Martinez get rousing applause again.
Victor Martinez leads off the ninth and singles to center. Peralta singles to right. Lofton grounds out to short to get the force at second for the first out. Gutierrez strikes out swinging. The fans in the section to my right start to jeer one of their own. Blake hits a ball deep to Death Valley but catches it at the warning track. Whoa!
Borowski lead the AL in saves with 45. Let's hope he returns to his April form where A-Rod hit a walk off home run.
Can Jeter, Abreu, and A-Rod repeat past heroics shown on the Jumbotron?
Father Alex e-mails me about the Bills. I ask him to pray for the Yankees. Jeter pops out to second. Abreu hit a solo shot above me. Woooo!!!!! Indians 6 - Yankees 4. Not dead yet.
A-Rod is 2 for 4 including a solo home run coming into this at bat. A-Rod takes a couple of close pitches as the "MVP" chant rings out. A-Rod flies out to right. Posada is .143 in the series and 1 for 4 coming to this at bat. Posada hits a ball that almost went out but went foul one section over from me. OMG! I almost get complete foul ball closure but Posada strikes out swinging. The Indians win the game 6-4 and the ALDS 3 games to 1.
Bottom Line: Given the bugs in Game 2 and at least three major calls going against the Yankees in Game 4, I tip my hat to the Indians who played well and wish them luck against the Red Sox.
When most gave up on the Yankees this season, the Tank did NOT. In the Yankees Comeback Blueprint on July 12, I predicted the exact number of wins regular season wins, 94. Yes, we failed in not winning the World Series and there will be many changes probably starting with Joe Torre. However, this was Joe's best managing job being a lightning rod absorbing criticism from the Boss on down. Many people call for firing Torre. I do not because his contract expires at the end of the month. I think Joe should walk into the sunset. He is 67 with a young family and it's not worth the abuse from the Boss and the fans. Bring in Giardi, Mattingly, or go to outside the organization for Tony LaRussa.
Furthermore, you can't rebuild overnight nor take a couple of years off like the Indians did earlier this decade. I remember former GM John Hart telling fans that they are developing young talent and asking their fans to be patient. I had a chance to see some games of their AAA affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, in the 1990s and it is some of the best attended games in the minors and they develop their talent. It worked for them but it's a much different media market and overall culture than impatient gotta have it yesterday New York.
The Yankees also got younger and better this season. Yes, Roger Clemens was a very expensive band-aid but the lessons learned by young pitchers like Chamberlain, Hughes, and others will be reaped for the next decade or so.
The next step is for the Yankees to lighten up the payroll. Carl *#@! Pavano's $10 million a season deal ends at the end of 2008. The Yankees should get a refund for the past three seasons and I should get a date with his ex-girlfriend. Giambi's, Farnsworth's, Mussina's (option for 2009), and other mega contracts contract end in the next year. Use that money to go after good young and proven free agents and not have to pay luxury tax to ungrateful teams like Tampa and Florida.
If you can't be excited by a young core of pitchers like Wang, Hughes, Kennedy, Chamberlain (who should be a reliever not a starter), and others in 2008 and beyond, I can't help you because you have more issues than me. Combine other young players like Cano, Cabrera, Duncan, etc. with veterans like Jeter and Damon. Posada and Rivera will almost re-sign with 100 percent certainty (God Willing), Matsui about 75 percent, A-Rod 60 percent, and Abreu is above 50 percent because his second half surge and ninth inning home run last night. I like Betemit and Molina as solid backups.
Posted by a grieving but optimistic Tank reporting Live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
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