 Sunday, May 11, 2008
Double Header Sums up the Mets Season
The Mets yesterday split a double header with the last place Reds that they should have won. In 1986 they would have won and in 2006 they would have won. After winning their last game on the road to salvage a .500 road trip and scoring 12 runs, the Mets looked like they came alive and showed some passion in the first game, giving Santana 12 runs to work with. That was all the Ace needed to get his first win at Shea. In the nightcap, the Mets stalled, getting only 4 hits off a struggling 8.00 ERA Bronson Arroyo. He embarrassed them and the Mets also made two sloppy errors as well in the field. Jeff Keppinger has more hits then the whole Mets team. This is the problem. Good teams grind out those nightcaps, don't go to asleep and give games away to last place teams and .800 ERA pitchers. Good teams knock out the .800 pitcher in the 5th inning with a few runs and attack the bullpen. If the team is struggling offensively (how can you say that when the Mets scored 24 runs in the previous two games?) then you foul off a ton of pitches, earn some walks, try to steal and force the pitchers to make mistakes and raise the pitch count. If the Mets can't win these kind of games, what makes you think they can win a critical Game 7 in October? (Or a critical game in September to clinch a spot in the playoffs.) This team is good, there is no doubt about, but it lacks the passion. When it finds that drive, that will to win, they will easily overtake their division and possibility go to the World Series. But they won't make the playoffs if they don't find it. Posted by Steve in New York (Still needing time to digest the Knicks move...)
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Bring Boomer Back to The Bronx?
Former Yankees pitcher David Wells is trying to return to the Yankees according to yesterday's New York Post. I liked Boomer when I met Boomer in September 2002 in Toronto. However, I was initially against his return to the Yankees after the way he left the Yankees in 2003. (I didn't have a digital camera back then so I don't have our photo.)
However, given Kei Igawa's dismal performance last night, it maybe time to reconsider Boomer. Boomer has a rubber arm and a valuable left hander. He's never been in the best shape in the world but maybe a short term answer until Hughes gets healthy and Kennedy fixes his issues. If the Yankees decide to start Joba later this season, he won't be ready until July or August at the earliest.
If I was Brian Cashman, I would do the following:
(1) Sign Boomer to the minimum contract with performance incentives for starts, innings pitched, ERA, etc.
(2) Let Igawa start one more game to give him another chance while Boomer gets a minor league start to knock off the rust.
I know this may seem like panic move but I don't think Igawa will work out. The Yankees invested lots of money in him but it maybe time to let him go back home. If I am Brian Cashman, I am listening to any offers to bring him back home to Japan which include eating the contract.
Posted by an anxious Tank in NY.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Can Wang be Wonderful for the Seventh Straight Time?
Chien Ming Wang was 6-0 in his first seven starts. The Indians Cliff Lee is 5-0 going into the game. Two aces on a beautiful early May evening at the Stadium. It promises to be a classic.
Wang gave up an early run even before I got to the Stadium. Indians 1 - Yankees 0.
Lee was brilliant throwing a one hitter through three innings. Matsui hit an early pop fly single to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.
Peralta scored on Blake single to center to make it 2-0 with two outs in the fourth. Darn it!
Jeter leads off in the fourth. The Yankees go down in order.
The Indians get two on in the fifth. When Francisco tried to bunt on 1-1, Shelley Duncan sprinted down to home plate and almost got the ball as Francisco bunted to foul territory on the third base side. Wow!
Dellucci singles to center. Indians 3 - Yankees 0.
Martinez swung and missed. Sizemore caught stealing at third. You gotta love Molina's arm and Jane's Addiction "Caught Stealing" playing over the speakers. Indians lead 3-0 after the top of the fifth.
The Melk Man singled to right with one out in the fifth. Cano fouls a couple of pitches and then hits a single to shallow right. Ensberg strikes out. Better than a double play. Oh no, Molina is hitting .226. He hit a ball to the warning track in right field. Ouch! At the end of five innings, Indians 3 - Yankees 0.
Since it is now an official game, the Yankees invite former manager Buck Showalter to turn the Met Life sign from 65 to 64 games remaining at Yankee Stadium. Good job Buck! Buck is in town for the ESPN Wednesday night game. I became a big fan of Buck when he managed the Oneonta Yankees to NY-Penn League titles in the 1980s.
My fellow Bleacher Creatures yell "Take the Wave to Shea" as the Wave dies at the Bleachers. Speaking of Shea, it will be my next game on Friday. Steve will be joining me for the first time in over a season as he is finishing up his MBA. Congratulations Steve!
Damon grounds out to second. Jeter flies out to right. Abreu beats the pitcher to first. Good hustle "El Come Dulce" - translation "Just Like Sugar". Duncan doubles down the left line. Abreu advances to third. The crowd rises to its feet in the Right Field Bleachers as Matsui comes to the plate but strikes out. Darn it!
It was good visiting JR in between innings. It's great to be back home in the Right Field Bleachers. Since I am a 20 game Flex Plan holder, most of my tickets are in Left Field Bleachers or Tier. Darn it!
Cabrera flies out deep in Death Valley. Cano grounds out to second. Ensberg hits a nubber down the third baseline. The Indians bullpen starts to warm up. Molina strikes out swinging. After seven, Indians 3 - Yankees 0.
Kyle Farnsworth starts the eighth. He hasn't been bad this year, touch wood. Francisco grounds past Ensberg. Dellucci flies out to Damon. Farnsworth's throws back to first don't work. Farnsworth has to keep focused on batter. Martinez flew out in front of me to Melky. Peralta swings and Molina guns out Martinez. Nice!
Perez replaces Lee. Damon promptly grounds out to short. Jeter comes up to the "Humpty Dance", one of my favorite songs. Jeter held his swing but called out swinging. The crowd rightly boos the blind ump. Abreu doubles down the left field line. Duncan flies out to right.
People start to leave the Stadium. Not The Tank but this is a disturbing trend. Only the most die-hard fans give the Yankees a chance. Part of me can't blame them as the Yankees are without Posada and A-Rod, or Ego-Rod as Steve wrote yesterday. I don't have any children of my own but I'll give him a pass on fainting in the delivery room. His wife should have kept the story private. As for giving his daughters the middle name of "Alexander", I don't know what was thinking but he's still my buddy. 
Albaladejo starts the ninth. Peralta singles to left. Cabrera walks. Blake bunts to third and is out at first. Shoppach walks. Hafner comes in for Marte. Hafner's slump continues as he grounds out in front of home to Molina who throws to first to complete the double play and keep the game at 3-0.
Betancourt tries to close it out. Time for the Rally Cap. Matsui fouls off to stay alive. Betancourt is lulling me to sleep because he is almost as slow as Aaron "The Human Raindelay" Heilman. Matsui grounds out to third. Melky comes up as the Red Sox unfortunately tie the Tigers 8-8 in the 7th according to the left field scoreboard. This is not good for us as the Tigers will probably catch fire again when we visit them this weekend, counter tooch wood. Melky pops up to the third baseman. Cano is out to end the game. The Indians win 3-0.
Bottom Line: The Yankees are under .500 again at 17-18. Ugh! Tuesday night's loss was a heart breaker as it exposed Joba and cost a chance to go two games above .500 and keep the Mariners' sweep momentum going.
Posted by a depressed Tank reporting live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Ego-Rod
Tonight A-Rod's wife goes on TV and says how it took A-Rod 3.5 weeks to build up the courage to ask her out and how he passed out in the delivery room when his first daughter was born. More importantly, avid reader Jack figured out that both of A-Rod's daughters have "Alexander" as their middle name. To quote Jack: "Are you freakin kidding me? The middle name of BOTH of his daughters is Alexander? Not even Alexandra, but his name. Man talk about ego." Well Said Jack-o. Posted by Steve in New York
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
So What Exactly Did Roger Clemens Apologize For?
The New York Daily News reported last week that the Rocket had a 10 year affair with country star Mindy McCready that began when she was 15. The news also linked Clemens with former bartender Angela Moyer and Paulette Dean Daly, a former wife of pro golfer John Daly. In a statement yesterday, Clemens apologized for "mistakes." "Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry," Clemens said via a statement issued by spokesman Patrick Dorton. "I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws." You're telling me. What is it you are apologizing for? Sex with a minor (he denies that part)? Steroids? (he denies that part too) Then what is it Roger? Why not just come clean about everything and maybe, just maybe, you will avoid jail time. Forget the Hall of Fame now, you can hang out with Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds. Memo to Roger, Brian McNamee is not out to get you, the US Congress is not out to get you, Mindy McCready is not out to get you, Andy Pettitte and his wife are not out to get you: your own ego is out to get you. Nobody believes you anymore. Come clean about steroids (and the affairs.) Posted by Steve in Montreal. (And yes the French Canadians don't believe you either.)
Monday, May 05, 2008
Ian Kennedy to minors
It was bound to happen. The 23 year old Ian Kennedy is 0-2 with an 8.37 ERA in six games, including five starts. The gamble to start the season with the youngsters Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy was a good one but unfortunately has failed for the Yankees. The decision to push Kennedy back to AAA was a good one, allow him to work up his confidence and control in a low risk and low pressure environment. The experience will be a good one for him. Remember when Wang was 23 he was in AAA and saw no time in the big leagues. What is next for the Yankees? There are not many options for them, but I am sure that they will think of something, they are the Yankees after all. The new Boss wanted to go with Santana but I agree that the Twins wanted too much for him. If the result is a year of limbo where Hughes, Kennedy and Chamberlain mature, that is ok. Probably not ok for the win now front office and fans but it should be. Posted by Steve in New York
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Billy Wagner Does Need to Keep it In-House
Oliver Perez is my favorite Mets pitcher. He is for two reasons, first is when he is on, you just can't hit him. The second reason is for the Russian Roulette you are playing with him on the mound, since when he is off, he is off.He can't find the plate and gets roughed up. Oliver had one of those games on Wednesday night. He lasted just 1 and 1-3 innings the night after the Mets bullpen outlasted the Pirates on Tuesday night in 11 innings. So Billy Wagner decided to call out Perez on his weekly radio show. Memo to Wagner: don't air your dirty laundry, handle this in the clubhouse. Willie agreed, “I wouldn’t go that route, but that’s Billy,” Willie said. “Billy gets a little emotional at times. If he feels that way, it’s fine. Billy doesn’t speak for the team. That’s just him. That’s just his opinion.” Willie is right, close ranks and take care of this internally. Anyway, why do pitchers have radio shows, or blogs from that matter?Just pitch damn-it. PS I think Kathleen should do the dishes more often. Oh wait that was Billy Wagner talking...... Posted by Steve in New York.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Sportsmanship Carries the Day and an Opponent Home
The sports world has been filled with steroids, dog fighting, gambling, and other scandals over the past year.
It's refreshing to learn of and write about the women's college softball game in Washington State. Hard luck senior, Sara Tucholsky, never hit a home run in her career. When Sara finally hit her home run, she collapsed before reaching second base from an injured leg. Her teammates could NOT help her as she would be called out and credited with a single.
After a few tense moments, her opponents, Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, carried her around each base, she touched it with her leg, and then they carried her home. Sara was greeted by emotional teammates at home plate.
Sportsmanship carried the day. Good job ladies!
Posted by an uplifted Tank in NY. Mega thanks to PermaGuest Outlaw Jack for the links and story idea!
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