 Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Billy Crystal a Yankee?
The Yankees are signing up a new player: comic Billy Crystal. He will work out with the team today and play in the spring training game against the Pirates on Thursday. This is a gift from the Yankees to Crystal for his 60th birthday.
While this is cute, it is a disaster. First what happens if Crystal gets injured. He is a 60 year old man playing baseball with men half his age and in world class shape. Second it sets a bad precedent. Who will be next?
Do the Yankees really need a publicity stunt like this? Do they need the distraction? What is next, allowing some hedge fund manager to sponsor third base, have his photo on the bag at Yankee stadium to play in three spring training games next year?
Posted by Steve in Lisbon.
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Mets on the mend
Last week the Mets got in trouble from MLB for not fielding a "representative" team. That was because only David Wright and Jose Reyes were not on the DL. They are slowly starting to come back. It started with Ryan Church, coming back after his brutal concussion. Then Brian Schneider and Endy Chavez came back this weekend from their hamstrings.Even Damion Easley (ankle) and Jose Valentin (who was out most of last year) are back. That gives the Mets more depth if Chavez will replace Alou in Left Field for the beginning of the season. Los dos Carlos (Beltran and Delgado) were in today's lineup. So things are slowly getting better. We are waiting on the health of el Duque and Pedro Martinez while also hoping that Luis Castillo recovers soon. The real question mark is setup reliever Duaner Sanchez. The Mets need him back in a big way.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
The Rockets are on a Roll
The Houston Rockets are the hottest tean in the NBA. The Rockets, no relation to Roger Clemens, have won 18 in a row and are now the third seed in the Western Conference. And the last seven games have been without Yao Ming. Incredible.
Who knows if they can win it all? My cousin Mirko does but I am still sticking with the Spurs. As long as the Celtics don't win, I don't care. I am going to enjoy the stretch run and the playoffs.
Posted by a grateful Tank in NY.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
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.
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