 Monday, August 04, 2008
Are the Yankees Playing Like the Yankees Used To?
The Yankees
could have laid down and play dead after the Angels took a 5-0 lead
yesterday. They didn't. They came back twice and won 14-9. Nady was
awesome with six RBIs. The Yankees finally had timely hitting,
sacrificed runners, and did all the things they used to in the late
1990s. Is the magic back? I'm not sure yet but I like the chemistry.
The Yankees have a little less than a third of a season to execute with
a retooled team. Texas is not a great team but the Yankees recently
lost two out of three to them. The Yankees must win at least three out
of four. Posted by The Tank in NY.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
The Ghost of Thurman Munson's Passing Hangs Over Like a Storm Cloud on Final Old Timer's Day
Yesterday marked 29 years since the passing of Thurman Munson in a tragic air crash. It went by in a
blink of an eye. (August 2 is also the date of the ascension of the Old Testament Prophet Elijah into
Heaven thousands of years ago.)
When I pass from this earth (hopefully not for many years to come), I have asked to be buried in my
Thurman Munson jersey.
Thunder and lightning passed through the area in the lead up to the game. Would they be able to get
the game in? Why was CBS 880 AM only giving news updates and not going to the ceremony?
A record number, 72, players make it for the farewell.
Super Twin Gil joins me for the first game in over a year at the Stadium. The Angels who have won five
in a row including sweeping the Red Sox and winning the first two at the Stadium. Can the Yankees
bounce back? It did not look good early as the Angels scored two runs in the second. The Yankees
fought back with a bloop and a blast to tie it at 2.
Moose get his rhythm and shuts the Angels down in the third. Molina hit a lead off single. I go crazy.
Damon singles him to third. I suggest putting him on the 4x100 meter Olympic relay team. Jeter hits into
a double play. Molina scores. Yankees 3 - Angels 2. As Brooklyn Brant check in, Bobby "El Como Dulce"
(Just Like Sugar) Abreu hits a solo shot to right center. Gil asks for silence but 54,000 plus fans and
yours truly are screaming our lungs out. Yankees 4 - Angels 2. A-Rod singles to center. Giambi
grounds out to end the third inning.
Molina hits a lead off home run in the fifth. Yankees 5 - Angels 2. I call Robert in Tampa but I think he
is in shock. Damon grounds out to second. Jeter flies out to center. Abreu does the same.
A-Rod hits a solo home run to the netting in left field. Yankees 6 - Angels 2.
Molina singled to lead off the seventh. The Jose Molina Fan Club is growing by leaps and bounds. Damon
walks. Jeter singles home Molina and Damon advances to third. Yankees 7 - Angels 2. Abreu grounds out
to second to get Jeter but Abreu is safe at force and Damon scores. Yankees 8 - Angels 2. The Angels
go to the pen.
Moose's day is done as Veras comes out for the 8th. Nice job.
Bruney wraps up with Mariano watching as the Yankees go down in order in the bottom of 8th. Bruney
knocks off the rust and does a great job.
Posted by The Tank reporting live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Everything Counts In Large Amounts
"Everything Counts In Large Amounts" is a great Depeche Mode lyric. It unfortunately applied to the Yankees and Mets last night as they lost games they should have won, especially the Yankees. Mariano let the only run in the ninth and K-Rod came in to preserve the 1-0 victory. It was a waste of a great performance by Ponson. Mariano doesn't pitch the same way in non-save situations as he does in save situations. Most relievers are that way, including the Mets' Billy Wagner.
The Mets lost 7-3 at Houston last night but they need to beat up on the Astros to keep pace with the Phillies.
"Everything (and Every Game) Counts in Large Amounts."
Posted by a Philosophical Tank in NY.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Gone Manny Gone! Hasta La Vista!
I wrote yesterday that Manny killed the Yankees over the years. Kai quoted ESPN that Manny’s stats against the Yankees are .321 BA, .1.029 OPS, 55 HRs, 163 RBIs in 200 games. I am so grateful that Manny left Boston but someone created a movie poster about it. Gotta love the Internet. 
Mega thanks to Kai for the stats and Editor-in-Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack for the movie poster.
Posted by the Still Partying Tank in NY.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Manny Moving to La-La Land; Paging Omar
Editor-in-Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack informed me a moment ago that the Red Sox traded Manny to La-La Land. Wait, he already resides there in the theatre of his mind.
Manny wasn't traded to the Packers as he recently joked below.
Seriously, I waited posting until the dust settled. The Mets dodged a major bullet as Manny was rumored to go to the Marlins. I am just glad he is no longer with the Red Sox as he almost always kills the Yankees. Thank God/G-d/Buddha/Allah/Creator of your choice!
Where is Omar before the Trade Deadline? Was he asleep at the wheel or being held hostage by other teams for F-Mart and other prospects? If the Mets don't make the post-season this year, I will personally pay for Steve's cab ride to Citifield to swear him in as the Mets new GM. Of course, I'll blog about it.
Posted by a partying Tank in Tradeville.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Expect the Unexpected -- Farnsworth for Pudge Trade
Editor-in-Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack informed me not long ago that the Yankees acquired Pudge in return for Farnsworth who pitched for the Tigers in 2005.
I think it is a good trade. The Tigers need a reliever and the Yankees need a hitting catcher. No offense to Molina who is a great defensive catcher but he is not a good hitter. This also lets Posada get the time he needs to mend and be ready for Spring Training 2009 and the rest of his contract. Pudge and Molina can rotate.
This trade kind of came out of left field, literally from the bullpen and figuratively as neither name was bandied about in trade talks. Expect the unexpected until tomorrow's 4 p.m. Trade Deadline.
Posted by The Tank in Tradeville.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Baseball Immortality -- Induction Day in Cooperstown
Sunday was an emotional day. It was a chance to see one of my
heroes, Goose Gossage, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, near my
hometown in Cooperstown, New York.
I texted Editor-In-Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack that the rain would hopefully hold off and it thankfully did. The only sad news was that my camera battery died. A new friend, John, is supposed to send me his. Until then, words will have to suffice.
My sister got some great tickets for my 12 year old nephew,
Elijah, and me. (It's partial closure for not giving me the Lakers at
Celtics ticket for the 1986 NBA Finals.)
Elijah and I traded stories about baseball players we have met. I
met A-Rod and he met the late, great Buck O'Neal. He has Rollie
Fingers' and Harmon Killerbrew's autographs. I met Gary Carter
and Dave Winfield and have their autographs. I guess meeting legends runs in the
family.
I am really grateful to Elijah for saving my baseball cards from the Flood of 2006 in Upstate New
York. I don't have any kids so Elijah is the closest thing I
have to a son.
There was a record 56 out of 64 living Hall of Famers in
attendance. The first voice on ESPN, George Grande, introduced each
one to the cheers of the crowd. Dallas Green correctly remarked that
there should be no games on this weekend as we should honor the past
legends like Yogi, Bob Feller, Reggie Jackson, Ralph Kiner, and on on.
Given that it's been 100 years since the last Cubs World Series
victory, Ernie Banks asked for reinstatement. Bud Selig unfortunately
said that he can't do it to the boos of the crowd. "We want a new
commissioner!" a lady behind me yells.
I got choked up when they did the roll call for Bobby Murcer, Tim
Russert, and Phil Rizzuto. It's a day for grown men to cry because
"it's a perfect game played by imperfect men" as Bruce Sutter's dad
would say.
There were so many great moments like the Buck O'Neal Lifetime
Achievement Award. No one will ever forget him as a bronze statue will
greet everyone at the entrance to the Hall of Fame. He dedicated over 70 of
his 94 years to baseball. Society owes him an immense gratitude for
being "right on time".
The voice of the Mariners, Dave "My Oh My" Niehaus, was the Ford
Frick inductee. I can see why many Mariners fans came to see him. He
has an infectious enthusiasm and his words tell the story better in the
"enclosed green field of the mind."
"Those are real baseball
cards back there," pointing to all the inductees behind him. Niehaus
took us on a journey from his boyhood Indiana home to Seattle and back
in the blink of an eye through his broadcasting work for the Armed
Forces Network, the Yankees, and even LA Lakers basketball games. It's
like you were drinking lemonade and listening to the game on the radio
on his parents' porch.
Larry Whiteside was honored by his son
for growing "The Black List" of African American journalists from 9 to
90. He was the African American writer to have a vote on the Writer's
Committee.
Get up and stretch! Stan "The Man" Musial usually plays his
harmonica. But, he couldn't make it this year. Johnny Bench stepped
in and did a great Harry Carey impersonation. Ernie Banks joined him
to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".
Pirates owner Barney
Dreyfus was Veterans Committee Selection for help starting the World
Series. He was inducted by his great grandson Andrew. Andrew did a
great job even though his great grandfather died 32 years before he was
born. Barney was reunited with other Pirates Honus Wagner, Ralph
Kiner, Bill Mazerski, and Goose Gossage.
Bowie Kuhn was honored to be a "next scoreboard boy" as a kid at
Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. But, he became much more
than that. He was commissioner through 15 turbulent years. His
adopted son, Paul Gegener, articulated how special his dad was. Paul
was adopted after his father was killed in a car accident. Paul
answered Bowie's critics. Bowie was the vanguard of the game against
gambling and other lurid interests that besmirched the "spirituality"
of the game. George was speaking to Commissioner Selig seated next to the podium and to all of us.
He linked to the current class, especially Goose Gossage, who was
the last major leaguer he spoke with before Bowie died. His dad
always "tried to do the right thing and be fair."
The crowd howled when Commissioner Selig presented George with the
plaque. "How does it feel to be near a real commissioner?" a man to my
right shouted.
"Bud, you'll never get one of those plaques!" another man shouted.
I couldn't see the rest of the speeches because I had to catch the last bus back to
the City for work. I was glad I spent the day with Elijah. We
made several great memories that I'll remember forever. I hope to
enjoy future ones as well, God Willing. If Elijah's Little League team
wins their next tournament, they get to burn their manager's Boston Red
Sox hat. That's enough incentive for me to get reinstated in Little
League with or without Commissioner Selig's permission. Posted by an emotional Tank at the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, New York.
P.S. Elijah called me today and said he was able to get Goose's
autograph on a baseball. The "perfect game" is in good hands of the
next generation.
Monday, July 28, 2008
When and If Will Manny Become a Met?
Is Manny being Manny again? OR, is it something deeper? Manny wants the Red Sox's to pick up his options over the next two years or be traded. Red Sox brass is not happy with him sitting out Friday's game and had him sent for an MRI which revealed no issues in his knees according to Suzyn Waldman on last night's radio broadcast. Manny's teammates are also mad at him. Even Boston fans are fed up with Manny. I am hope that Omar makes the deal to get Manny out of Boston. The Mets need a corner outfielder. Yes, Manny is a defensive liability but a great offensive player. I don't think the Red Sox will make the deal before Thursday's deadline but will probably wait till the off-season. Manny getting out of Boston and into a Met uniform benefits the Mets and Yankees. Posted by a hopeful Tank in Tradeville.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The Johan Santana we paid for...
Today Johan Santana showed what he is made of. After a 5 hour 14 inning marathon last night, Johan comes in and pitches a complete game, scattering six hits (and one Pujols Home Run). Johan even got a hit and his first RBI as a Met. While Johan has pitched awesome this year with a 2.93 ERA, the Mets have given him no run support and he has lost games 2-1, and 3-2. Today the Mets showed what they are capable of and supported their ace with 17 hits and 9 runs. Johan will probably finish the season with 15 wins and a 3.00 ERA, but the real money is worth it if the Mets make the playoffs. Posted by Steve in New York
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