 Friday, March 07, 2008
The Banged up Mets
While the addition of Johan Santana was a key component to the 2008 plan for the New York Mets playoff plan. Some other areas that have to fall into place are Moises Alou and Carlos Delgado. Unfortunately they are both a question mark in spring training. Moises Alou will be out for 4-6 weeks and not return to the lineup until early May. Carlos Delgado is banged up with a bad hip, a hip that can effect his swing. Even more than Johan Santan, Alou and Delgado hold the key to the Mets playoff fortunes this year. Let's hope that they heal fast. Posted by Steve in New York
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Perfect Spring Game
Yankee pitchers combined to pitch a rain shortened six inning perfect game on Tuesday.
Opening Day is a little over three weeks away. I can live with the following starting rotation:
Chien-Ming Wang
Andy Pettitte
Mike Mussina
Philip Hughes
Ian Kennedy / Kei Igawa
The loser of the fifth starting job can be an emergency reliever and/or long man.
If Igawa hasn't fixed his mechanics, send him to AAA to continue working and/or someone gets injured, God forbid. He was part of the perfect game so he'll hopefully be okay, touch wood.
Of course, I have not included Carl "The Cavalry" Pavano. (Super Twin Gil, Please make sure Medford Bob hasn't fallen out of his chair.) Seriously, I don't know if Pavano will ever throw another pitch for the Yankees. His contract is the closest thing to legalized theft this side of the Tax Man.
Joba: Lots of people want him to start as he did back in college at Nebraska. I think he is more effective in the bullpen as a setup man to Mariano as Mariano was to John Wetteland in the mid 1990s. When I was at Game 3 of the ALDS, he pitched 2 innings but was more effective in the first of those two innings. If he was a starter, he would win 18-20+ games, God Willing. Another starter like Kennedy or Igawa could win about 15 games, touch wood. However, if Joba is in the bullpen, he has a chance to help close out 40+ games. Therefore, the difference between Joba's 18-20+ games and Kennedy/Igawa's 15 games is about 3-5 games. But, the difference is more games to win 40+ games in pen is greater than the 3 to 5 games as a starter. How many saves did Mariano blow because he was overworked, injured, etc.? I'll address this more in the future.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
The Gunslinger Rides into the Sunset
Brett Favre retired from the Green Bay Packers yesterday after 17 years. He won a Super Bowl and three MVPs. I actually remember his first game when I was in college in Buffalo in 1992. The local radio stations talked about him replacing local player Majikowski from nearby Cheektowaga. Majikowski was the local Wally Pip. Brett went onto play 275 consecutive games from that day in 1992. Wow! I have graduated college in 1994 and traveled the world.
Brett is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time and owns all major records. I remember him beating the Raiders after his father's death. His wife is a breast cancer survivor and he lost a relative in a ATV crash. His home area of Mississippi was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. He's been through lots and it's time to rest and enjoy the rest of his life.
Congratulations Brett! Happy retirement.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Knicks Starting to Promote Other Team's Players
You know your team is bad when they starting to promote the other team's players. I received an e-mail today from the Knicks about LeBron James' last game at the Garden this season tomorrow night. I have been lucky to see His Majesty King LeBron James play at the Garden and in the Meadowlands last season. Steve and The Tank will continue to boycott the Knicks until the change the error of their ways and do not plan to attend a Knick game this season.
Posted by a vigilant Tank in NY.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Andy Pettitte Takes the Mound
Andy Pettitte looked sharp yesterday when he took the mound for the Yankees against the Philadelphia Phillies in spring training. He pitched two scoreless innings while striking out one, walking one and forcing an inning-ending double play in the first. He threw 13 of 21 pitches for strikes and only allowed one hit. “All in all, I was real happy,” Pettitte said. “It definitely was a good day.” All eyes were on Pettitte since he announced that he took HGH and testified to the US Congress against what Roger Clemens has said. Hopefully the Clemens affair will not be too distracting for Pettitte. Posted by Steve in New York
Sunday, March 02, 2008
March Meltdown Madness
March Madness got off to an early start as University of Michigan Women's Basketball Coach Kevin Borseth lost it Thursday night after the Wolverines blew an 18 point lead against the Wisconsin Badgers. I happened to watch the early part of the game on the Big Ten network on my JetBlue flight back from Florida. BTW's JetBlue TV's rule! If you haven't seen the video, it's kind of sad but shows the passion that makes college sports special.
I can unfortunately relate to Coach Borseth's passion. My beloved Orangemen were leading by 11 points, 75-64, late in the game before losing to Pittsburgh 82-77 on Saturday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. I didn't have a meltdown like Coach Borseth as I was trying to stay steady in my chair at the barber shop. The barber accidentally cut my face as he was shaving my goatee. He never cut me before, perhaps he watched Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Anyway, my "Color Me Bad" looking goatee is thankfully intact after light bleeding. Let's hope the Orangemen can stop the bleeding and make the Dance with wins over Seton Hall and Marquette and make at least the semi-finals of the Big East Tournament at the Garden.
Posted by The Tank on the bubble in the barber's chair.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Take One for the Team
"Take one for the team" is a line from one of the greatest movies ever, Major League. Brady Clark did his part on Saturday for the Mets. Clark was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. This scored the winning run in the Mets first win in Spring Training, 1-0, that I watched a few minutes ago on the WB11.
The game also marked a reunion of former Yankees, Willie Randolph for the Mets and Joe Torre and Don Mattingly for the Dodgers.
On the injury front, Church and Anderson collided in the outfield and both were taken to the hospital for precautionary MRIs. Speaking of MRIs, Delgado's hip is being evaluated in the City. MRIs are not fun. I had one last summer after I tore my left calf. My doctor was afraid that it was a stress fracture but it thankfully was "only" the tear. With lots of blood, sweat, prayers, and tears, I ran the NYC Marathon last November thank God. I hope and pray that Church, Anderson, and Delgado get better soon.
Posted by a hopeful Tank in NY.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Johan Santana makes his first spring training start
Everything seemed to stop in Port St. Lucie. Johan Santana took his warm up pitches. Not quite a full house but close. (Someone has to work and someone has to go to school. If I did not have to go to school tomorrow, I would have flew down to the game.) The first pitch was a strike.. In the first inning, Johan gave up 3 hits, including a 3 run shot to Juan Gonzalez. While Mets fans are going berserk that Santana will do poorly with the Mets this year, a 3 run HR to a former AL MVP in February is ok. He looked sharp in the second inning. Even though Johan gave up the 3 run home run, a new era has begun.... In other news Jose Reyes beat out an infield single to open the first inning. Quite a sight to see compared the last month of the season when Jose was jogging to first. Wright looked sharp as well. Posted by Steve in New York
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Time for the Rocket to come clean
The US Congress has asked the US Justice Department to investigate Roger Clemens alleged performance enhancing drug use. They will also review his testimony and look at potential perjury charges. Major League Baseball has failed to act, so the government has to. If the government puts Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens in jail, even for perjury, it will be a major step in stopping HGH and steroid use in MLB. Next stop: investigate the commissioner. Posted by Steve in New York
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